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Cape May County Youth Shelter employees, parents oppose privatization plan
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CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE - Parents and employees spoke in support of the Cape May County Youth Shelter at Tuesday's freeholders meeting, concerned that a potential privatization will lead to a loss in the level of care.
"The shelter in itself is the perfect (place) for the kids in our county that need it," said Michele Carr, of North Wildwood, who said her child was nearly placed in the shelter for bad behavior.
Her child had shaped up before being sent there, she said. But Carr said she has friends who were grateful for the shelter's work aiding their children.
"If it wasn't for the shelter, who knows what would have happened to them," the mother of three said.
Facing a $3 million to $5 million deficit in 2010, Cape May County Freeholders have been reviewing every area of county government to find ways to cut expenses, Freeholder Daniel Beyel said.
The most recent of these was a review of the Cape May County Youth Shelter, a 12-bed facility used temporarily for at-risk children placed there by courts or youth services, or for problems ranging from drug abuse to family issues.
Cape May County Administrator Stephen O'Connor said the costs of the shelter are higher than in others counties in New Jersey and privatization could cut costs by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The shelter, which has 14 full-time and one-part time employee, cost $1.1 million last year. It housed 78 children on a temporary basis last year.
Earlier this month, the freeholders voted to solicit bids from private companies.
Bids for the youth shelter are expected to come back by Nov. 16, O'Connor said. Employees of the youth shelter and the union representing them can place bids, O'Connor said.
"We'll see what the numbers are," O'Connor said.
The privatization talks have employees fighting back, saying they have a long track record of service.
Two parents of children who were in the shelter spoke at Tuesday's meeting but declined to provide their full names.
Meanwhile, youth shelter employees are fearful of their jobs - some employees may be able to transfer to openings in other departments, but officials offered no promises regarding layoffs.
Rhonda Love, an employee at the youth shelter, said employees like herself - a 23-year county employee earning less than $40,000 - are modestly paid.
"This isn't just a job. This is something we love doing," Love said.
Employees said the services they provide can outmatch any private provider.
Employee Lidia McClintock said, "We're like the shining star, and they want to get rid of the shining star."
Privatization could involve several scenarios. A company can operate the existing Cape May County shelter and profit by leasing excess space there to other counties or youth programs. A company also could use foster parents in Cape May County instead of a shelter.
Employee Terry O'Neill said the youth shelter's budget represents less than 1 percent of the county's overall budget.
O'Neill said the experiences of the children at the shelter should be factored into the numbers.
"These are the things that need to be calculated when bids come in," he said, "and they should be attached right on top."
Contact Brian Ianieri:
609-463-6713
Posted in Cape_may, Breaking on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 8:25 pm Updated: 8:42 pm.
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