The SEIU Local 509 signed an agreement this week with the Department of Mental Retardation that would move its employees at Fernald to community-based programs as residents transfer out of the state facility. The union represents about 30 social service and education professionals at Fernald.
Since then-Gov. Mitt Romney announced his intentions to close the 200-acre Fernald property in 2003, city officials have worried over what might become of the state-owned parcel and guardians of its severely handicapped residents have rallied against moving their loved ones.
The SEIU was against the facility's closure, fearing loss of jobs. But now, with the DMR agreement, the workers are calling it a win-win situation where union members keep jobs and residents get to move out to the community in what they are calling less restrictive settings.
"In the past we opposed closures and about four years ago the board voted to change course and to work with the administration to move residents and the staff out to the community," said Cliff Cohn, Local 509 director of operations. "Our members at Fernald know that Fernald is going to close and they want the good-paying union jobs to move out to the community."
Yet opponents of the facility's closure fear the worst.
Marilyn Meagher's 56-year-old sister lives at the Walter E. Fernald Development Center, she has been there since age 4. Meagher, president of the Fernald League, a group of Fernald residents' guardians, says it is the only home her sister has ever known and there is no way an outside service could provide the same range of 24-hour care.
"It's not an equal or better situation in the community, there they have everything within the confines of Fernald's grounds," Meagher said. "There are residents that have lived there over 50 or 60 years - these people cannot transition into the community."
Last year attorneys for profoundly disabled Fernald residents filed suit against the state. The suit accused the state of violating a 1993 class action court decision requiring "equal or better services" for all residents who transfer out of the state-run facility.
Since then, transfers have been put on hold pending a report from U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan. But SEIU members see this only as a delay in Fernald's inevitable closure, Cohn said.
Diane Booher from Westborough has 54-year-old twin brothers at Fernald.
She says proponents of closing the state-run facility are wrong to say moving to smaller programs in the community would be a healthier situation for residents. With its own chapel, swimming pool and day programs, she says Fernald is a community of its own.
"Their needs are well met at Fernald and they are with staff who know them," Booher said.
There are thousands of severely handicapped individuals doing well in small community programs, says Leo V. Sarkissian, the executive director of Arc of Massachusetts, a developmentally challenged advocacy group. He said SEIU's agreement with DMR makes the way for progress.
"Part of the barrier has always been the employees," Sarkissian said, about why it has been difficult for state insitutions like Fernald to close. "This is a culmination of the commitment SEIU made to not stand in the way of progress."
But Colleen M. Lutkevich, executive director of the Coalition of Families and Advocates for the Retarded, said she is disappointed that SEIU will not oppose Fernald's closure.
"We would hope that if people are forced to move to the community that state employees would go with them but we don't support the closure of Fernald," Lutkevich said. "And we're hopeful that the new governor will develop a plan to allow Fernald to remain on a portion of the current property."
Just what would happen to Fernald is closed brings up a whole other issue for city officials. Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy said she wants to know if the state has plans for the land. McCarthy said while the property is state-owned, the city has been assured of a lengthy community involved process in deciding its future use.
"The State House has some plan for Fernald already," McCarthy said. "I just wish they would let us know what it is as a courtesy."
State Rep. Thomas M. Stanley, D-Waltham, said he had not heard about SEIU's announcement until the Tribune called him yesterday. Stanley said he has been in constant contact with the governor's office about any moves regarding Fernald.
In the event of closure, Stanley said he helped set up a reuse committee composed of local elected officials and community members and chaired by the mayor.
"I would insist on the reuse committee process which would heavily involve locally elected officials and residents as well as representatives from the state," Stanley said.
A DMR representative did not immediately return a call requesting comment.
Nicole Haley can be reached at nhaley@cnc.com or 781-398-8004.
