Gov. Deval Patrick gets an earful at Groton visit

It was May 2008 when Putterman learned the state had agreed to "de-institutionalize" hundreds of developmentally-disabled people, including his daughter Laura, as part of a lawsuit settlement that he never knew about.

Laura lives at Seven Hills nursing home in Groton.

Many Seven Hills patients are quadriplegic and tube-fed like Eric Voss is, said Frank Voss, Eric's father. But so far, Patrick's administration hasn't responded to the families' pleas not to evict these patients from the medical facility, Voss said.

"Your administration has refused to acknowledge the most profound medical needs" of the patients, Voss said.

"I'll come," Patrick said in reference to visiting Seven Hills. Patrick said that while advocating for de-institutionalization of mentally and developmentally disabled people, he always has believed in including families and physicians' opinions in deciding how to care for patients.

"You've got to be engaged in that," Patrick told Voss. "If you are not, something is broken."

In a Town Hall-style event held at Groton's town field yesterday, Gov. Patrick met with a few hundred residents from across Nashoba Valley, spending about two hours to lend a listening ear to those who needed it. The event was one of the 15 such listening sessions the governor is hosting this summer statewide to "make state government accessible for

From special-education advocates to a Girl Scout troop with a question about how to be a good leader, people with stakes in a wide range of issues threw questions at Patrick.

After introductions by Selectmen Chairman Peter Cunningham, state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton and state Rep. Robert Hargraves, R-Groton, Patrick opened the event by noting the state is faced with "profound economic challenges" that would leave a $1 billion hole in the budget even if the state laid off all of its workers.

"Yet, I'm still hopeful; there is an opportunity in every crisis," Patrick said, touting the state's efforts for ethics, transportation and pension reforms as good examples of "seizing" the opportunities.

Patrick provided a sympathetic ear to many who spoke at the event, including family members of the Seven Hills patients. The state decided to move a number of patients from nursing homes into group homes a year ago following a settlement in a decade-old class-action lawsuit, Rolland v. Patrick, in which lawyers were trying to free a disabled Agawam woman, Loretta Rolland, from a nursing home where the state had placed her.

But families and staff members at Seven Hills say they never knew the suit was filed on behalf of 1,600 mentally retarded and developmentally disabled people, including those at Seven Hills. The family members appealed the settlement and are waiting for the case to move forward in federal court.

Voss said he was "shocked" by Patrick's showing of understanding of patients' needs. But Putterman remained more cautious.

"It's a start," he allowed.

Meanwhile, Rob Hartz of Littleton told Patrick that area residents are extremely concerned that Pan Am Railways' move to pave its lot over Ayer's aquifer and create an automobile unloading facility would compromise the quality of drinking water. Patrick promised to try intervening by talking to CSX Corp., which leases a

In response to audience questions about the sales-tax increase, Patrick stressed he was never in favor of it.

"We should not be asking people to pay for same old, same old, same old," Patrick said.

Kurt Hayes, a former state representative candidate from Boxboro, also urged Patrick's support for two legislative bills that would make it easier for Lyme disease patients to receive treatments.

"I will keep an eye out for it," Patrick said.