DATE: Wednesday, November 5, 1997           TAG: 9711051149

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   66 lines

NEIGHBORS WORRY ABOUT HOME FOR MILDLY DISTURBED YOUNGSTERS

Residents of the Hickory Acres neighborhood are fighting to prevent a home for mildly disturbed young adults from opening there, but state law may stop the fight before it begins.

``I have a widow that lives alone beside me, and I'm afraid for her now,'' said Betsy Meads, who lives in Hickory Acres and is one of the leaders of a group opposing the home.

About 40 neighbors, planners from the city and county, and Rep. Bill Owens met at the Carter Street home Tuesday afternoon. Residents voiced their concerns about safety to Gary Bass of Pride in North Carolina.

Pride contracts with Albemarle Mental Health to operate eight homes for violent or anti-social youths and young adults in Pasquotank County. All the clients are from northeastern North Carolina and range in age from 7 to 21.

The residents expressed fears for the safety of their children and several widows who live in the middle-class neighborhood established about 30 years ago.

``We've always been good neighbors wherever we've gone,'' said Bass, a regional director for Pride. ``Walking down the street, you're not going to be able tell your sons from one of them.''

Pasquotank County is ranked second in the number of youth homes run by Pride from among an estimated 15 regions. Homes exist in Azalea Acres, Brite's Meadows and Mount Hermon Village.

``It seems they're expanding very fast,'' Meads said.

Bass said the Carter Street home will house two men between the ages of 18 and 21. They may be mildly disturbed, he said. While in the home, managers trained in the mental health field will monitor their actions 24 hours a day, but the house will not be locked. The managers are trained in verbally and physically restraining the home residents.

The young adults will receive training and work details during the day. Bass said the goal is to get them functioning as normally as possible, including holding a job.

The men do not have a criminal record, he said. But Bass said he could not guarantee that residents in the future would not have a record.

The Hickory Acres residents hired attorney John Morrison to represent them in opposing the home.

State law overrides local zoning ordinances in this case, but restrictive covenants made before the state law may take precedence, Morrison said.

During the meeting with Bass in the living room of the Pride home, Morrison said the residents were concerned with security and the character of the middle-class neighborhood.

``It's very important to my clients that this not be disturbed,'' Morrison told Bass.

The neighbors were concerned that the home would house violent teens sometimes classified as ``Willie M.'' youths. Because of a 1979 lawsuit involving a teen called Willie M., the state agreed to fund rehabilitation for violent or anti-social youths. The Carter Street home is not for Willie M. youths, who can be classified as severely disturbed. A Pride home in Camden is for Willie M. youths. Bass said he could not guarantee that former Willie M. teens would not live in the Carter Street home.

``There have not been any problems with them since I've been here,'' said Elizabeth City Police Chief Michael Lloyd. Meads said Sheriff Randy Cartwright said he had had only minor calls. Cartwright could not be reached for comment.

Bass said each resident costs taxpayers about $100,000 a year. Pride has a one-year lease on the Carter Street house at $900 a month. The home includes a swimming pool.

The homes are licensed through the North Carolina Division of Facility Services.

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