Halfway house debate stalled

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Aug 31 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

The City of Vernon is standing firm on not discussing a proposed halfway house. Council reconfirmed its policy Monday that it will not consider a new halfway house until the trial into Bill Abramenko’s death is completed and reports are released. The city was asked by the Community Advisory Board to meet with it, Correctional Services Canada and the operator of a facility. “We’ve already given them a strong message so I don’t see a need to meet with them at the earliest opportunity,” said Coun. Barry Beardsell.

Abramenko, 75, died in 2004 in his South Vernon home. The individual who has been charged with the death was missing from a halfway house at the time of the incident. Both Correctional Services Canada and the RCMP have refused to release internal reports into the Abramenko case to protect the integrity of the trial, which begins in January. But the city insists those reports are necessary before it can decide on the future of a new halfway house. “We have emphatically given out the requirements,” said Beardsell, who wants to ensure public safety is addressed. “After all that happens, if there is a need to meet with the Community Advisory Board, so be it.”

In a letter to council, the Community Advisory Board states there are outstanding issues that could be addressed during a face-to-face meeting. “The Community Advisory Board was formed by the City of Vernon and Correctional Services Canada in April 2005 in order to learn about correctional issues so they could advise Corrections and city hall of the ideal halfway house for the Vernon community,” said Rose Carson, with the board. “The CAB underwent a very stringent educational experience and spent a great deal of time creating a full report including 25 recommendations that we feel will guide the re-establishment of a community residential facility in Vernon.”