BabySafeHaven
03-16-2004, 03:25 AM
MASSACHUSETTS
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Swansea voters approve baby safe haven
DEBORAH ALLARD-BERNARDI , Herald News Staff Reporter 03/16/2004
SWANSEA -- Voters approved all 23 items they were presented with at Special
Town Meeting Monday, including the creation of a baby safe haven and a new town
cemetery.
The baby safe haven home rule petition, which passed with a unanimous vote,
will allow new parents to relinquish their babies, up to 7 days old, to the
town’s fire departments, police department and medical clinics without fear
of prosecution.
Advocates said the new bylaw will save babies’ lives and keep parents from
abandoning them in unsafe places. A bill that would make baby safe haven a
state wide law moved forward in the State House of Representatives Monday.
It will still need to go before the Senate and will not likely become a state
law this year, according to a babysafe haven advocate Michael Morrisey.
In addition to Swansea, the town of Westboro was also voting to create a safe
baby haven home rule petition at its Town Meeting Monday night. Some 20 cities
and towns in the commonwealth have similar agenda items on their ballots this
spring.
One Swansea town resident wanted to know how the town would deal with abandoned
infants, and if it had the resources to do so.
Selectmen Chairman Ronald J. Ramos said agencies that receive an abandoned baby
are instructed to call 9-1-1 right away to have the child transported to a
hospital for evaluation.
"It’s a lot better than if this law wasn’t passed," said Ramos.
Town resident Chris Sampson said the by law will give the "newborn a voice he
doesn’t have now."
"It’s far better than when we find a baby wrapped in a bag somewhere," said
Sampson.
Police Chief George Arruda said he would prefer to see the passage of a state
wide law, rather than a home rule petition, because he felt the town did not
have the resources it should have for dealing with abandoned babies. However,
Arruda said he thought that saving a baby’s life was far more important than
financial concerns.
"I have mixed emotions," said Arruda. "I agree with a safe haven law. I’m
torn between not having the facilities to deal with (abandonment) ... I would
rather have someone turn (the baby) into the police station. I have trained
professional police officers."
http://www.heraldnews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11127175&BRD=1710&PAG=461&d
ept_id=99784&rfi=6
Top Stories
Swansea voters approve baby safe haven
DEBORAH ALLARD-BERNARDI , Herald News Staff Reporter 03/16/2004
SWANSEA -- Voters approved all 23 items they were presented with at Special
Town Meeting Monday, including the creation of a baby safe haven and a new town
cemetery.
The baby safe haven home rule petition, which passed with a unanimous vote,
will allow new parents to relinquish their babies, up to 7 days old, to the
town’s fire departments, police department and medical clinics without fear
of prosecution.
Advocates said the new bylaw will save babies’ lives and keep parents from
abandoning them in unsafe places. A bill that would make baby safe haven a
state wide law moved forward in the State House of Representatives Monday.
It will still need to go before the Senate and will not likely become a state
law this year, according to a babysafe haven advocate Michael Morrisey.
In addition to Swansea, the town of Westboro was also voting to create a safe
baby haven home rule petition at its Town Meeting Monday night. Some 20 cities
and towns in the commonwealth have similar agenda items on their ballots this
spring.
One Swansea town resident wanted to know how the town would deal with abandoned
infants, and if it had the resources to do so.
Selectmen Chairman Ronald J. Ramos said agencies that receive an abandoned baby
are instructed to call 9-1-1 right away to have the child transported to a
hospital for evaluation.
"It’s a lot better than if this law wasn’t passed," said Ramos.
Town resident Chris Sampson said the by law will give the "newborn a voice he
doesn’t have now."
"It’s far better than when we find a baby wrapped in a bag somewhere," said
Sampson.
Police Chief George Arruda said he would prefer to see the passage of a state
wide law, rather than a home rule petition, because he felt the town did not
have the resources it should have for dealing with abandoned babies. However,
Arruda said he thought that saving a baby’s life was far more important than
financial concerns.
"I have mixed emotions," said Arruda. "I agree with a safe haven law. I’m
torn between not having the facilities to deal with (abandonment) ... I would
rather have someone turn (the baby) into the police station. I have trained
professional police officers."
