Affects 254 Employees
State is Closing Six Trouble-Kid Homes

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

The largest state-employees union reacted with frustration to a decision announced Jan. 11 to close six residential centers for troubled children, displacing 254 state workers.

GLADYS CARRION: Will try to relocate staff.

Officials from the state Office of Children and Family Services said that the move, which would save $16 million annually and become effective Jan. 11, 2009, was needed to improve care for young people, most of whom have committed misdemeanors and were sent to the facilities by family courts.

Cites Unused Beds

"We don't need the capacity we have in the system," said OCFS Commissioner Gladys Carrion, "and that's because the counties have done a good job of diverting children from our system and keeping those children in community-based programs, without having to remove them from their homes."

As of Jan. 7, 86 percent of the beds in the non-secure facilities being closed and 33 percent of the beds in limited-secure facilities were empty, according to OCFS. The state is looking to move the children to community-based programs, which officials say are more effective at preventing repeat criminal behavior.

About 90 workers at a Bronx intake center will be moved to a site in Brooklyn, and state officials say they will work to place all of the affected employees at different locations or in other state agencies within the region where they now work. But union officials were annoyed that the announcement was made public just as they were being briefed on the plan.

"To see this happening is extremely disappointing," said Civil Service Employees Association spokesman Stephen Madarasz. "You can avoid a whole lot of the angst and anxiety if there's some dialogue before you go public with something like this." About 196 CSEA members will be affected.

Spitzer Reached Out

Ms. Carrion said that Governor Spitzer had called the affected union presidents on the morning of the announcement to brief them and that she called to invite them to a 1 p.m. meeting being held with the staff. A press release was sent out at about 1:30 p.m. "We tried to make sure everyone was in the loop," Ms. Carrion said, "but things have a way of getting out, and we wanted to make sure we were sharing accurate information."

Officials from the Public Employees Federation were less perturbed by the process. "We are encouraged that the Governor and commissioners reached out to us directly, unlike previous administrations," PEF President Ken Brynien said in a statement. "They have committed to maintaining the job security of our members." About 45 PEF members will be affected by the OCFS closures.

PEF also represents approximately 71 members at four prisons upstate that the state Department of Corrections announced would also close in January 2009. "We will review the proposals and do everything possible to ensure the job security of our members and public safety is not jeopardized."

Lining Up Other Jobs

Ms. Carrion said that the agency was working with officials from the state Department of Civil Service and Department of Labor to help workers to find positions elsewhere.

"Our goal at Civil Service is to find an alternative state employment opportunity for every one of the affected workers," said Department of Civil Service Commissioner Nancy G. Groenwegen in a statement. "We have experience at this and will work closely with OCFS, other state agencies, and employees themselves to make this transition as smooth as possible."

But Mr. Madarasz argued that placement elsewhere was not always as straightforward as it sounded. "People may get offered positions," he said "but they can't always accept them. It could mean relocating or another significant life upheaval."

Longer Commutes

For example, even if an employee is offered a position within his or her region, the state has five regions which can span hundreds of miles. Or, as in the case of the Bronx facility, employees' commutes could change dramatically by having to travel to Brooklyn. OCFS offers up to $3,000 for moving expenses for employees on a case-by-case basis.

Positions will be offered on a voluntary basis initially, but eventually the placements will be mandatory.

"We will work with the unions to make individual plans to address particular needs for the employees," said Ms. Carrion. "Our goal is to make sure everyone gets an offer."

The facilities being closed are: the Adirondack Wilderness Challenge in Clinton County, Auburn Residential Center in Cayuga County, Brace Residential Center in Delaware County, Gloversville Group Home in Fulton County, Great Valley Residential Center in Cattaraugus County, and the Pyramid Reception Center in The Bronx.

OCFS also is reducing by half the number of beds at the Lansing Residential Center in Cayuga County. The program at the Adirondack Wilderness will be merged into the Adirondack Residential Center, and the intake functions at Pyramid will be relocated to the Ella McQueen Residential Center in Brooklyn.