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FVFTTI Coiborne Communily Services Rleport agenicy By Mike Kowalski A m or overhaul of a local montalealth agency has been proposed in a report prepared for the Ontario govorment. Coîborne Community Services (0C) 0 )i prating in an "extreme sate of dystùnction» which puts both clients and staff at risk, says the highly-critical report by consultants. "Thnis is an organization in deep crisis." "Wefound an organization in a great deal of pain in which both clients and staff are atriisk. Unlese significant changes are undertaken, the agency should shut down, the consultants recommend. But despite the problems, the agency can continue to porform a valuable role if needed changes are made the report adds. "Staff hee totally vindicated,' said a jubilant Brigid Phelan, unit chair for Local 21936 of the Canadian Union of Public e ve een rYig to get Our message out for some time now someone has listened," Phelan said. A scathing condeinnation of the seven-year-old agency, the 49-page document was prenared for the MinistrY of H-ealt h-by IKPMG Manaornent Consulting and the Clarke Institute Con- sultinGru Hea inui'*ister Ruth Grier ordored a review of the non- profit agoncy in March after aile- gations of improprieties" were raîsed by ernployees of Whitby Ail Saints Residence Corp. dur- ing a six-week strike. Arnong their accusations, wor- kers claimed that residents. had been improporly discharged; reports wero altered; residents sexually assaulted; staff sexually harassed, and provincial health and.safety laws ignored. The employees provide life skills training to people with mental health problemns at three group h omes in Whitby. dsi AlSaints operates 30 bedsi the three facilities through Col- borne Community Services and offers su pport services te more than 100 clients in Durham Region through the Helping Partnerships prograin. In their report, the consultants describe the agency as an «organization in a geat deal of pain..which s deepy rootod and wil require a major effort b yal parties te return CCS te, health. Included in their review, the consultants found: * a deep division in which the board management are on «4one side" and the unionized staff on "the other side"; * a highly adversarial attitude on bath sides; * a board of directers that is removed from direct input of both front-lino staff and external providers;' * eymixed repot and some serieus concerna îut quality of client service fromn clients, staff and external providers * an atmosphere o f dysfunction ini which bothaides fèeel threa- tened» by the othor. Despite describing the current envir-onment as being of "criais proportion," the consultants state that' CCS aIse possesses «some strengths» upon which te rebuild. Theseiclude: * an oight-member board of directers committed te rebuild- aneed for those programns i Durhamn Region; * clients and faniilies who are F-atoful for the services and some real client success atornes"; * a commitmoent te clients among al arties; SEE PAGE 16 CHRISTINE DIDYCZ presents a student- p roduced bookiet on Westside Creek Marsh, to David Crombie, during a series of reent public meetings to decide the marsh's future. Photo by John Dujay, Whitby Free Pres Local studentsjoin eff ort1 save Bowmanville mars h By John Dujay Four Whitby olementary school students recentlyappeared befare Waterfront Regene- ration Trut commssioner David Crombie te make a plea on behalf of wildlife i a Bowman- ville marsh. The four Grade 8 students from Ormiston Public School -- who make up SWAN (Students Supporting Wetlands and Nature) -- joined many other groups and idividuals opposing St. Mary's cernent company's praposod expan- sion ite Wesaide Marah. St. Mary's has held the licence for the propry which includes the marsh, a class 2 wetland, 'since 1968. The area contains about 60 per cent of "currently accessible rornainng reserves" of limestone, says St. Mary's president Gene Wninkle. Alternatives, such as cernpleting a land swap with Ontario Hydre, are unfeasible, ho says.. "Not only did they have serieus econoric implications for aur entire company operations in some instances they had undesireible social and environmental consequences,» ho said. Wrinkle said that apening a new quarry would roquire more than 250 truck tri ps a day. The additienal cost and environmental darnage would be tee high, ho said. SWAN's cancern is the wildlife. «Where do ail the animaIs go?" asked Chris- tino Didycz, spokesperson for SWAN, said ia presentatian before Crombie and trust mem- bers in the Bowmanville tewn hall recently. "Imagne yurself flying, soaning like a bird, fyinglike aawk. "T'hon you corne home -- and it's gene," it was stated in the SWAN prosentatian. As Didycz spoke, the other SWAN members -- George Armstrong, Danny Forbes and Win- nie Wang -- held up a banner that stated 'Save Westside Creek Marsh.' ,SEEFPAG P 3