1971-01-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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374 Mystic Valley Mental Health Association had submitted a budget for the year 1971 requesting an increase of funds from $8789 paid in 1970 to $19,609.36 for 1971. Dr. Cosgrove went on to say that he did not know what the reaction of the other Board members was but he knew he could not go before the Appropriation Committee and justify this request. I know that the first thing the appropriation committee is going to say is what additional services will the Town receive for this much more money. This budget as submitted is very hard to understand and I could not justify this increase from the information we have. bpd 1 Dr. Ellicott: When this Board first met with the repre- sentatives from the Mystic Valley Mental Health Center I was very sympathetic to their cause, but I have spent approximately five hours studying this budget and all the information that has been sent me and I find this budget very unrealistic. I keep remembering what Mr. Lambie said about the increase of 5 additional professional help in a year enlarging the organization to the point of not being able to deliver the services efficiently. Mr. O'Connell: As often happens in State supported agencies the State keeps increasing professional help and the towns are expected to provide the funds for the clerical help. In this case the Towns are also being asked for money to augment the salaries of the professional staff. This does not mean the professionals are working a great many additional hours or giving more service it is a way of bringing professional salaries up higher than the State allows and therefore the Mental Health Center has more bargaining power to get the help they want. Mystic Valley mentions a training session for school personnel, I feel I should point out that the School has in their budget funds which provide counselors for the schools, these counselors are trained before they are hired so I am sure the Lexington Schools would not be using that program. The Mental Health Department has now started to push their program for the education of the mentally retarded child between the ages of 7 to 16. This is a con- tinuance of their kindergarten program for children 3 to 7 yrs. of age. The State Law reads that all children are entitled to an education from age 7 to 16, therefore, the professional help for these youngsters will continue to increase. Dr. Ellicott: I noticed this description of the program to offer counciling services to the schools and I really doubt that the Lexington Schools would use this program. I wondered as I looked at this budget if we would not be better off hiring a private psychiatrist. I checked with one of the psychiatrists in private practice and asked him what he charged per visit and how long he spent with the patient. He said he devoted 55 minutes to the patient and charged $30.00 per 55 minute period. The evaluation and diagnostic hours as listed by Mystic Valley are not charged to the private patient, also private physicians pay their own over -head costs such as rent, telephone, and etc. Mystic Valley has that property tax fr... Mr. Cateldo: I would give this Board the same advise that all the Boards and Department heads have received regarding budgets this year, that is to hold a hard fast line on ex- penditures except where rates or services have changed. This budget is very idealistic, they do pay to have an audit of their becks, do you people get a copy of this audit? 1 1