ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 1, 1996 TAG: 9602010043
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
State legislators are considering a bill that would close Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg and the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Hampton.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Marty Williams, R-Newport News, and five other conservative Republicans, would close the state-owned institutions and sell the property to raise an estimated $60.1 million for college construction projects.
The proposal also would close the Piedmont Geriatric Hospital in Burkeville and a Department of General Services laboratory in Shenandoah.
Sen. Stephen Martin, R-Chesterfield, who spearheaded the plan and drafted the legislation, said at least the plan deserves a look from the legislature.
``We're willing to stand up and say this needs to be considered,'' he said.
Tidewater legislators from both parties have denounced the proposal to close the Hampton Roads facilities.
``I'll make every reasonable effort to stomp on it,'' said Sen. Thomas Norment, R-James City. He represents the area around the mental hospital, but was not told of the plan before it was introduced.
Del. Alan Diamonstein, D-Newport News, a senior House budget writer, said he didn't think Williams could get a single vote from any other member of the local delegation for closing the Hampton school or Eastern State.
Last week, Diamonstein introduced an alternative plan last week to borrow $125 million through bond sales to finance the college construction projects. Martin said it would be foolish to borrow money when it can be raised through consolidation.
Under the proposal, the 1,200 employees at Eastern State and the 136 at the School for the Deaf and the Blind would have to transfer to other jobs to keep working for the state, said Will Conners, Williams' legislative aide.
Some of the 480 patients at Eastern State would be moved Central State Hospital in Petersburg. Officials would have to find space in private Hampton Roads hospitals to care for others under a state contract.
The functions of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind would be consolidated at the state's other such school in Staunton.
The budget amendments are scheduled to be formally presented Thursday. Selling the hospital would raise $42.8 million and the school would bring about $6.8 million, according to the plan.
The bills proponents say the $60.1 million would be used to build some of the 19 college construction projects that Gov. George Allen hoped to pay for by selling surplus state property.
The administration yet to identify property to pay for the college projects, and Allen has proposed a less-extensive sale of state-owned land and buildings.
Among the college projects at stake are the planned renovation of the former Ferguson High School at Christopher Newport University and the renovation of Rogers Hall at the College of William and Mary.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB