Council passes group home standards

Oct. 25--WARRENSBURG -- The City Council took steps Monday night to provide standards of care for people with a disability who live in group homes.

The council adopted an ordinance proposed by Police Chief Rich Lockhart that requires operators of group homes to provide adequately trained staff for the facility and the supervision of disabled clients to prevent harm to them or to other residents.

The ordinance further prohibits operators of group homes to house anyone who poses a direct threat to the health and safety of other residents or the public or the threat of damage to property owned by others.

Operators also may not allow a resident incapable of managing their personal safety to leave the premises without supervision by a staff member or other responsible person who can assure their safety.

Lockhart said the police department had responded to hundreds of calls over the past year and a half to various group homes in the community where many residents have a mental illness and developmental disabilities and are under the care of a guardian.

The guardians typically do not live here, and in many cases are not available to assist officers on the scene, he said, and research showed many of the group homes failed to provide adequate care for the residents.

After consulting with City Attorney Doug Harris, Lockhart said they discovered there is not an existing ordinance regulating the proper care of group home residents.

The council voted unanimously to pass the ordinance.

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