Council denies request to add residents to group homes

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By DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

City Council members spent several hours Monday listening to emotional testimony about everything from holes in the socks of developmentally disabled people to the $36,000 Cadillac CTS that a group home provider bought its CEO.

All in the name of deciding whether three of the company’s group homes should be allowed to add a fourth resident. In the end, the council wasn’t persuaded, with the request failing by a vote of 2-5.

Developmental Services of Nebraska Inc. asked for waivers — as permitted under federal law — that would allow a fourth person to live in homes serving developmentally disabled people at 424 N. Coddington Ave., 1661 Timber Ridge Road and 5516 Hunts Drive. The addition of another resident would mean the homes meet the city’s definition of group homes, which must be separated by 1,200 feet to a half mile.

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The Coddington home is on the same block where a group home resident, Roger Einspahr, allegedly stabbed a 5-year-old boy in April 2004. At the time of the stabbing, the group home was run by Active Community Treatment.

Roxanne Talbott, who lives in the 300 block of North Coddington Avenue, said 12 developmentally disabled people live in three group homes on her block — which she said is an undue burden on the neighborhood. She asked the council to look out for the safety of the neighborhood, saying police are often called to the group homes and that one of her children had been approached by Einspahr prior to the assault. She said her child often comes home scared “because of what he’s seen or heard.”

Another resident of the block, Rebecca Barnes, said the group home workers don’t provide adequate supervision of residents, as evidenced by the stabbing. However, Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady said the number of incidents on that block have decreased since ACT merged with DSN.

People who work with the developmentally disabled said the comments by neighbors are hurtful and discriminatory. James Masten, a DSN executive assistant, said if you insert the word “black” for “developmentally disabled” and then make those kinds of comments, it would clearly be discriminatory.

Carla Sorensen, an advocate for people with developmental disabilities, asked the council to imagine having to ask the city if it’s OK to live somewhere.

“Choosing where you’re going to live is part of living a meaningful life,” she said.

Roxanne Copp, the former director of a different Lincoln group home provider, said she’s worked in the field for more than 30 years in several states, and when she moved to Lincoln about eight years ago and saw the services it provides to disabled people, she was ashamed. She said a lot of people would rather live next to a home full of extraterrestrials than a group home.

“I’ve (seen) thousands of group homes with very, very few incidents,” she said.

Sarah Lucas, a DSN case manager, said it’s heartbreaking to see clients who can’t afford to buy new socks and can barely afford to pay their rent and buy food.

“We’re talking about people’s homes and people having to pay living expenses,” said Scott LeFevre, CEO of DSN.

But the council was more interested in DSN’s financial affairs, questioning how much money the company makes or loses on its homes, who their landlords are, how much rent they pay and whether those rents were too high.

Councilman Jonathan Cook got personal, asking if it’s true DSN provides LeFevre with a Cadillac. LeFevre defended his Caddy, recalling his company’s beginnings when he was its entire staff and he earned nothing during its first year of operation “because I had to pay my staff.”

“I have put my life, my heart and my soul into DSN,” LeFevre said. “And I don’t believe I have to take a vow of poverty. I feel I’ve earned everything that I have.”

Cook said he wasn’t persuaded DSN needed the waivers, particularly when the company threatens to “put people out on the street” while “buying expensive cars for their” CEO. Only Councilman Ken Svoboda and Councilwoman Robin Eschliman voted to grant the waivers.

But the issue is far from settled. DSN believes that the city’s spacing requirement violates federal law, and is suing the city over it and other regulations the city imposes on providers.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.