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Residents raise funding, access and discrimination concerns after Southview closure; administrator clarifies temporary JFS use
Summary
Public commenters said the Southview building closure harmed developmental-disability services and alleged discrimination; County Administrator said JFS will temporarily occupy Southview while a new $40–$45 million JFS facility is planned and that no human services levy dollars will fund construction.
At the meeting’s public comment period, Susan Komorowski said Montgomery County’s Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) and related services are underfunded and that the county’s closing of the Southview building removed a community resource where staff, families and residents accessed services. She objected that Job and Family Services (JFS) will temporarily occupy the Southview building while a new JFS facility estimated at $40–$45 million is planned, and said residents with developmental disabilities feel discriminated against.
County Administrator Mr. Colbert responded that the Southview building will serve only as temporary space for JFS while the new facility is built and explicitly stated that no human services levy dollars will be used for construction. He said the decision was made in collaboration with DDS and provided this clarification in response to public concern.
