Budget fight begins with Warrensville tour

Feb. 26, 2007 - OCSEA leaders from the Warrensville Developmental Center recently hosted a large tour of the facility attended by four legislators and a legislative liaison from Governor Strickland’s office. MH/MR/OVH Assembly leadership are hosting tours of Developmental Centers and behavioral health facilities raise awareness among legislators about the union’s budget concerns.

Participating in the Warrensville tour from left are: Superintendent Bill Green, OCSEA Operations Dir David Johnson, Governor Strickland's Legislative Liaison Tamiyka L. Koger, OCSEA Assist. Dir. Of Government Affairs Krista Bistline, State Rep. Mike Skindell, State Rep. Sandra Williams, State Sen. Lance Mason, ODMR/DD Deputy Director Mike Snow, OCSEA Chapter Secretary Constance Cooper, OCSEA Chapter President Robert Ellis, parent Pete Doyle. PHOTO ALBUM

MR/DD in particular has been hit hard with two institutional closures and the elimination of hundreds of positions in a job reassessment in 2002.

Warrensville Chapter President Robert Ellis and Secretary Constance Cooper were joined by center parents Pete Doyle, who is also the president of the local Parent and Volunteer Association, and Kay Davis.

Superintendent Bill Green gave a power point presentation explaining how management and labor have worked together to reduce overtime from around 7 percent to nearly 2 percent today and how, during that same period, Medicaid citations have been cut by nearly 200 percent.

Ellis explained to the group that reducing these figures was all about the job security of his members. “We knew we had to do something to ensure our members had employment and that we didn’t let down the people we take care of.”

The population at Warrensville has been reduced by 50 residents over the last several years. The majority of those individuals were moved to other Developmental Centers.

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