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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />OCTOBER 9, 1996 <br />contacts with children the residents of the group home <br />have had. <br />One of the mothers of one of these individuals reported <br />that they are not sexual in nature and are very sedate. <br />Her son has caused no problems in their neighborhood <br />and is very friently and social. However, he is very <br />vulnerable and trusting and can be easily taken <br />advantage of. These individuals are very young-minded <br />and are not dangerous. They are more of a danger to <br />themselves because of their compulsion to gorge on <br />food. If not monitored, they will kill themselves with <br />food. <br />One of the group home staff reported that the only <br />reason the group home has alarms on the bedroom doors <br />is to alert the sleeping staff if one of the residents <br />is wandering looking for food. The staff inember <br />reported that these residents are actually very <br />delightful people. The staff inember also pointed out <br />in response to the comment that the group home was <br />moving into the neighborhood without notifying anyone, <br />that she herself has spent a couple of hours on the <br />phone talking with neighbors. While the home has been <br />vacant for a while, McGraw actually closed on the <br />purchase in September. From that time on, staff was <br />out in the neighborhood introducing themselves. <br />Fahey asked if the residents would be supervised when <br />they are exercising. <br />McGraw replied that they would, and noted the group <br />home also has a membership at the Maplewood Community <br />Center. McGraw reported there are very few group homes <br />dedicated to Prader-Willie Syndrome. Staff is very <br />dedicated to working with these people, and McGraw felt <br />they will be wonderful neighbors. <br />Jensen reported that she has information these <br />individuals are prone to temper tantrums and outbursts. <br />Jensen was concerned this behavior would be a danger to <br />children in the neighborhood. <br />One of the mothers of a child with Prader-Willi <br />reported that behavior is an issue because these <br />individuals have no control over their eating. Food <br />must be locked up and monitored. Their money must be <br />monitored because it turns into food. While these <br />individuals have a lot of capabilities, and her son is <br />very verbal, friendly, and capable, they are also very <br />limited by this disability. The frustration over food <br />7 <br />