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Report to the Selectmen from the Hunan Service Committee regarding the Citizen's
Warrant Article for funding of CMARC
Subcommittee members - Ruth Butler, Ruth Nablo
Sources of information
(a) telephone conversations with Mabyn Martin - Special Education Lexington Schools_
(b) interview with Robert Renna - director of Lexington vocational training and
L.A.B B program (voc collaborative).
(c) interview with Janette Morley - Dept of Rental Health, Winchester office.
(d) telephone conversation with Allan Ey - Concord Office of Mass. Rehabilitation
Commission.
(e) visit to the CMARC Open House
(f) Dec 31, 1978 CMARC audit APPENDIX I _
(g) June 30, 1979 CMARC audit APPENDIX II
There are other sources that we would have liked to have had available to us � 1
before making a recommendation to the selectmen
These are
(a) the documents that led to the decision of the Department of Mental 7
Health (DMH) to withdraw funded clients from the programs at CMARC.
(b) the documents from the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MEG)
relating to their evaluation of CMARC
-c (c) the on site visit report which the subcommittee had planned but which fi
was cancelled because of resignation of executive director_
Status Report There are at the present time five Lexington people receiving
services from CMARC Four of these participants or clients are funded by
the 13MB while the fifth is funded by MRC Only four of these clients have
their transportation needs supplied by Lexington. The State statute man-
dates that all clients receive transportation to approved programs_ Such
transportation costs appear in the Lexington school budget.
Since Lexington clients receive program state funding and transportation,
Lexington's financial contribution (voted last year) has been used for the
general budget of CMARC
* The decision by the DMH to not continue funding its clients at CMARC will t `
have a profound impact on the organization This Committee understands
that DMH has assured the affected clients that an alternative placement will
be made It is expected, but not confirmed, that CMARC is appealing the
decision Meanwhile Mass Rehab Com (MRC) has voted to continue its
support In the 1979 budget of CMARC, DMH constituted 41 percent of the f ,
total support Mass. Rehab was 13 percent and the cities and towns un-
restricted support was 13 percent
It is apparent that program and administration reorganization will have to .F.
take place if the DMH funding is not restored The Committee does not have
current information from the CMARC board in this regard However, the C:-LARC
secretary said on Friday, January 18th that the intention was to proceed with
the 1980 warrant article
e4( �. 112
Page 2
Recommendations
* (1) It is the Committee's recommendation that Lexington -consider funding
CMARC when and if there is a continuation of 01411 funding There
should be an indication at that time, that CMARC is moving forward
in acting upon the various DMH recommendations in management and pro—
gram. Under these conditions, we recommend that .the selectmen be
authorized, at their discretion to vote these funds.
(2) At that time if so voted, we further recommend that CMARC be funded
through a contract between the Lexington Board of Health and CMARC.
The Human Service Committee could provide recommendations to the
Selectmen for such a contract
Continuing Study-
In a continuing evaluation of CMARC the subcommittee would like to examine
the following subjects.
(1) on site visit with CMARC
(2) attend a CMARC board of directors meeting
(3) visit other sheltered workshops
(4) meet with Lexington CMARC parents
We intend to accomplish this before the 1980 town meeting and will keep the
selectmen informed
await' In addition there are several general questions regarding programs for the
handicapped which the committee would like to address.
1 State regulations effecting Program location and facility size and cost_
2. State coordination in such areas as job placement and contract
development
3. The role of the local community in state supported programs.
* January 21 Mr Alterson, vice president of CMARC called to tell us that DMH
has rescinded the termination notice and is working with the
Association to improve the programs and find an executive director.
JT