Frustrated over what they consider bad planning by the state for the move of forensic patients from Owings Mills to Springfield’s Muncie Building, Sykesville’s mayor and Town Council said this week they will explore annexing Springfield Hospital Center.
“When (state health officials) looked to put Rosewood here, nobody looked at a plan. They looked at a building and said ‘put it over there,’” Mayor Jonathan Herman said at Tuesday’s council meeting.
“There needs to be a plan, and because the state is unwilling to participate in a serious plan, I think the town should take an initiative,” Herman said.
“And the initiative would be to annex the hospital.”
The thinking behind the move, Herman said, is for the town to have a say over what could go on the hospital campus. He said the town could have a public master plan session where the town and residents would help plan for appropriate uses on Springfield’s sprawling property.
Early this year Gov. Martin O’Malley ordered Owings Mills’ Rosewood Center to close by June 30, 2009.
Eleven of the center’s residents, who have been charged with a crime and are developmentally disabled, are slated to move into Springfield’s Muncie Building this month.
Health officials said they needed to have a plan to quickly in place because of the move and found Springfield to be the best fit due to what it already has on the campus and had preliminary approval for the move this past summer.
State Health Sec. John Colmers has apologized for communication lapses for the move, but defends selecting Springfield as the location of the Secure Evaluation and Therapeutic Treatment program.
Usually the state’s Mental Hygiene Administration is good about communicating Springfield happenings, town officials said, but the Developmental Disabilities Administration’s SETT program coming to Springfield’s campus caught Sykesville’s mayor and council by surprise.
The mayor and some council members consider the move objectionable, and do not want a similar move to happen again.
Still, Town Manager Matt Candland noted that the state can supercede the town’s plans and essentially do what it desires, but the state traditionally has a policy of respecting local zoning and mater plans.
Councilman Leo Keenan objected to exploring annexation because of what Candland cited.
“We can plan all we want, but I think it’s not going to make a difference to the state,” he said.
Council members Debby Ellis, Frank Robert, Jeannie Nichols, Scott Sanzone, said annexing should be considered while Council member Eugene Johson Sr. was less committal saying, “It’s something to think about.”
The council also voted 5-0 to state they the town is opposed to the Rosewood transfer. Councilwoman Debby Ellis abstained.
Herman also said he plans to write a letter on the council’s behalf to O’Malley to state the town’s feelings about the patient transfer.

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