NRPH Improving, Babcock Tells Township by KEVIN WILSON We See an Increase in Direct-Care Staff, Time
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• Christmas Walk opens h,bliday season ~ ( ." s~e~pa~ (flb:lX l:l 0 0 -, 0 DI .... ~Rl. :J ro.b:lR- l:l ..... O:J(J) • -,c.O r+/l):J • -, lI' '< Iltrnrb .....~ • WAYNE COUNTY'S OLDEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER... ESTABLISHED 1869 PubUelUon Number USPS396MO C1l18SSliger/llvl"llston ~ t- 'served • -001 Vol. 117.No. 20,Three Sections. 38Pages. Plus Supplements WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1985-NORTHVILLE, MICHIGAN Nn ~NTS \ . - •NRPH improving, Babcock tells townsHIp By KEVIN WILSON we see an Increase in direct-care staff, time. The real Issue, again, is patient "In this nat,ion, we have the op- and those outside the facility. figures, showing local reports of 361 the problem will lessen. " care." portunity to bear arms," he told the "I think a fence reinforces the belief walkaways through November 1, 1984 Reducing the patient population at Outlining a population reduction pro- Aside from agreeing with state gathering. "The next time, you won't that psychological patients are in- compared with 407 through the same Northville Regional Psychiatric gram, Babcock said NRPH has been Senator R. Robert Geake <R- have to send any police cars to sur· herently dangerous," Babcock said. "It date this year). Hospital (NRPH) will be the primary undergoing steady improvement from Northville) that DMH should' re- round- my house - yOU'llhave to send reinforces the fears that are not based, Babcock and hospital director Brown means of addressing the walkaway pro- 1982,when he said the facility had only activate the "security committee" that an ambulance to haul them away." I think, on reality." said the current staff-patient ratio.is blem, C. Patrick Babcock, director of 65 percent of the staff needed, to today formerly met monthly to review the Other residents, and township board He earlier argued that a fence would 1.03:1, ranking It fourth among the nine the Michigan Department of Mental when it is approaching 100 percent of situation, Babcock rejected Virtually members, urged that DMH consider ex- be anti-therapeutic, giving patients the DMH institutions. The more-fully staff- Health (OMH) said last week. the staffing needs. Even staff in- all the suggestions and critictsms aired tending the fence to surround all four impression they are incarcerated ed facilities have ratios of 1.2 staff per Appearing before the Northville creases, however, will not be SUfficient at the meeting. sides of the hospital or installing gates rather than undergoing treatment. • patient. Township Board of Trustees November to improve conditions if the hospital re- Residents and local officials were where roads pass throUgh the current "A fence may the easiest answer In Asked if security officers would be 14, Babcock said he would "look at" mains overpopulated, he said. generally disappointed In Babcock's three-sided fence. the world, but still not solve the real stationed In the guard house at the suggestions that the hospital fence be Population was at the 1,000 mark in response to their questions about Babcock rejected an such overtures. problem," he continued. ImproVing pa- Seven Mile Road entrance, Babcock extended toward Seven Mile Road and 1981, rose to 1,100 in '82 and is back hospital security and threats of legal He said he Is "philosophically opposed" tient care, he said, is what is needed at said the facility was never intended as a that security staff be increased, but down to rOUghly1,000today. Figures of- action or violence were aired several to fencing mental institutions and that NRPH, touting an 18-month, $14million suggested that he is more concerned fered during the meeting were 987, with times during the one-hour and 45- critics of the three-sided fence con- plan to reduce the population to 650 pa- ConUnued 01111 about improVing patient care than he is another 80 housed at Plymouth Center minute discussion. structed after years of legislative and tients. with local complaints about for Human Development, for a total of Robert Hartson, whose home· was local pressure were not being fair. He said improvements In the number Local officials find Bab- walkaways. 1,037patients under NRPH programs. recently broken Into by a hospital "The fence has only been up for five of direct-care staff per patient have o "Walkaway problems will occur," "Northville wili continue to be a pro- walkaway, announced that a civil suit weeks," he said. "Give it a chance." already resulted in a reduction In the cock 'unresponsive'/11A Babcock said. "They occur at any in- blem as long as It stays that size," Bab- had been filed that morning. Har.Mn Asked for specific objections to fenc- number of walkaways, claiming the . • StitubtliOnalsetting. I think the WbalkedawAacocky said. "The patients at Northville also suggested that he would resort to ing the hospital, Babcock said he op- walkaway rate was 56-per-month in o Plymouth Center proper- pro em has started to be a at . s need hospitalization and treatment. violence if another patient breaks into poses the idea because it conveys un- 1984 and only 33-per-month in 1985. ty puts Heintz, Babcock at the population continues to decline and Some progress is being made at this his home. wanted impressions to both the patients (Township police later disputed his odds/11A Council hesitant .on cable transfer . ByKEVINWILSON Cities cable division president William James in a letter to council asked that Working out a $21million deal to pur- the franchise agreement be tl'ansfeiTed chase Omnlcom cable television from and praised Suri and the role he played Capital Cities Communications may inbuildingupthesystenl. ~£ • have been the easy part of Harcharan After outlining Suri's role In Capital <Harry) Surl's bid to take over the com- Cities cable opera~ons and..the fIn!l's pany that has employed him since 1980. growth to the 20th largest In the U.S,.jn To close the deal, SUr!needs approval five years, James wrote that "No words • from local units of government to could possible express the high regard I transfer the franchise agreements to have for Harry ... I truly feel that your new ownership: If Northville City Coun- community is fortunate to have the op- cil's early reaction to news of the sale is portunity to be served by Harry Surl any Indication, he has a rough row to andN-Com." hoe if the expected January closing is to Bul Vernon said the city chose to , Record photo by STEVE FECHT. take place. grant the cable franchise to Omnicom Council Monday night delayed action "mainly because of Capital Cities," The completion of the Media center and other new additions have been delayed due to b~d weather on the franchise transfer, opting to re- noting that the firm is financially solid quest that SUr!attend a council meeting and had a good track record. By con- to answer questions about how he pro- trast, the mayor said, N-Com, Inc. is an poses to,live up to the franchise condi- unknown quantity. Weather stalls parts of high school reilovation tions. Vernon asked city manager Steven " • Suri, vice president and director of Walters if the city has "some options" ByMI~LEM. FECHT Projected completion dates submit- carpeting, contmuous weeks of rain the roof if there is rain or the potential engineering at Capital Cities, has 90 in considering the transfer. ted to the Northville Board of Educa- . have stalled progess on the remaining of rain. percent ownership as a general partner "Well, if you were refusing to Though construction crews at Nor- tion In mid-october by Elgin Builders, construction area and roof installation. Should current weather conditions in N-Com, Inc., the proposed purchaser transfer, it would have to be for a thville High School proper are working contractors for the project, were revis- Of greatest concern to school officials prevail as the project draws to a close, of both the local Omnicom of Michigan specified reason," Walters said. "It at a fast and furious pace to complete ed last week. While the contractors is the unfinished science wing which . Knighton noted that the district can and Clear Cablevision, Inc. Several would be the equivalent of revoking renovation of the 25-year-old facility have proje<:ted the renovation still will still is In the construction stages. 'finish the roof on the science wing with limited partners have investments in Onmicom's franchise and would have prior to the January '1:1 move-in date, be completed by January 1, the bulk of While construction crews and masons a membrane-type material which can the purchase plan. to be in line with the revocation terms bad weather continues to plague the the work is expected to be finished by have completed the foundation on the be Installed in cold weather. The Capital Cities must sell the cable In the agreement." project and once again has delayed early to mid-December. In Its first east and north walls and contractors district will receive the same lO-year systems because it ha5 purchased the Vernon said Omnicom has failed to completion of certain areas. schedule, the contractors anticipated have projected completion of the entire guarantee for an alternate roof as it will ABC network. Federal Communica- meet several of its franchise obliga- While both school officials and the some areas would be completed as ear- wing by December 31, continued poor for the polyurethane material 011 the re- • tions Commission (FCC) prohibit net· tions, noting specifically the absence of contractor for the proje<:t contend the ly as mid-october. weather has kept steelworkers from in- mainder of the building, Knighton works from owning cable television a home alarm system that was promis- building will be completed in time for Assistant Superintendent Burton stalling roof beams.