In wake of teen's death, Council to hold hearings on facilities for troubled youth

Three days after the state ordered a West Philadelphia residential treatment facility to close its doors following the death of a 17-year-old patient, City Council voted Thursday to hold hearings on that facility and others that care for troubled youth.

"The question becomes: There were 80 kids there. What happens to them?" said Councilman Curtis Jones Jr., who visited Wordsworth Academy last year.

The facility cared for youths with emotional, behavioral, or academic difficulties. It was closed after the Oct. 13 death of a teen who, state documents allege, stopped breathing when staff members restrained his legs and punched his rib cage.

The reports describe hazardous living conditions, including broken heating and air-conditioning units, holes in walls, and rusted bathroom facilities. The documents also allege that staff members were not properly trained in restraining children.

Jones, whose district includes Wordsworth and who called for the hearing, said he visited the facility after developing concerns about the private Community Umbrella Agencies (CUAs) that the city's Department of Human Services contracts with to manage its cases. Wordsworth, which operates the residential facility as well as other programs, is one of those CUAs.

Jones said his visit did not raise any red flags.

"It was clean. The young people there seemed, on the surface, well taken care of," he said. "But that's when I was there."

He said that if there were problems, he wished the facility had been open about them.

"What concerns me is, that kid never gets a do-over," Jones said.

In other business at Council's weekly meeting Thursday, members voted to hold a hearing on Rebuild, the program expected to launch next year that will pour an estimated $600 million into revitalizing parks, recreation centers, and libraries. Specifically, members are focused on ensuring those projects will be staffed with a diverse workforce.

Though some on Council have long voiced concerns about a lack of diversity on city-funded projects, in particular those contracted to unions, Rebuild seems to be stimulating the discussions.

"I want to make sure those individual projects are diverse and inclusive," said Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, who called for the hearing. "When people in the neighborhoods see we're doing ribbon cuttings and I'm asked the question, 'How can people from the neighborhood work on these particular projects?' . . . we want to make sure there's a strategic plan."

Lauren Hitt, Mayor Kenney's spokeswoman, said in a statement that the mayor's office is working on an agreement with the building trades that would help increase diversity in the construction industry. She said Rebuild staff members are also working to better understand the challenges facing minority- and women-owned businesses, which also create barriers that keep construction managers, contractors, and unions from reaching diversity goals.

"We concur with Council that diversity must be a core principle of Rebuild's implementation," Hitt said.

In a rare move, Council members on Thursday also asked all Council staff, lobbyists, guests, and media to leave the caucus room so the group could discuss a matter in executive session.

The members emerged after about 15 minutes.

Council President Darrell L. Clarke declined to say what was discussed other than an "administrative" matter. Sources later said the group talked about the increasing number of honorary resolutions, which eat up time during each week's Council session, being introduced by members.

Without discussing the topic, Clarke insisted the meeting was not in violation of the state Sunshine Act, which limits when public bodies can meet in private, because the group was not discussing legislation.

Jane Roh, his spokeswoman, did acknowledge that Clarke failed to properly announce the executive session before it took place, as required by law. She said he did announce it, but so quietly that many people apparently did not hear him.

"President Clarke recognizes that he should have announced more clearly and loudly that City Council was going into executive session to discuss an administrative matter," Roh said. "He regrets the error."

tnadolny@phillynews.com 215-854-2730

@TriciaNadolny