Ancora--From the Asbury Park Press 19 Feb 2008
WINSLOW — Slowly, progress is being made toward fixing years of long-standing problems at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital, says Assistant Human Services Commissioner Kevin Martone. A community warning system, which failed in December, has been improved so that nearby residents will be called the next time a patient escapes from the hospital grounds, Martone said. Staff must now contact police immediately if a patient is unaccounted for instead of looking for the patient first. A new, higher fence outside and new cameras inside will improve security. To cut down on overtime and payroll abuse, the hospital will be installing time clocks. In 2006, 300 employees each received at least $10,000 in overtime pay. Almost $9.1 million of Ancora's $85 million budget, or 10.7 percent, was spent on overtime. None of the employees are currently required to punch a time clock. But that will change, Martone said. The 37-year-old assistant commissioner, appointed to make reforms by former acting Go