The task force appointed to review and propose an ordinance to regulate group homes in LaGrange expects to present its findings within months.

The panel has met twice. During its most recent meeting, held Friday, members heard from Keith Bostick, director of the office of residential child care for the state Department of Human Resources.

“He made a presentation and passed out about a half-inch thick (stack of papers) on policy and procedures that the group homes are supposed to follow,” said George Moore, former longtime city councilman and chairman of the group home task force. “The purpose of the meeting was to get information so we were not acting without knowledge of what the state already requires.

“We will meet again in April and probably make a decision after that.”

The panel was formed after City Council in December proposed an ordinance that would set zoning standards for all future group homes, require current and future group homes to purchase licenses, and give the city some control over the homes. After two heated public hearings, council tabled its initial proposal in January in favor of appointing a task force of residents to study the issue and come up with a new ordinance proposal within a year.

Members of the panel have researched other cities’ ordinances that oversee group homes.

“We’re still looking at best practices,” said committee member Andy Brubaker, a foster parent and director of alumni and family relations at LaGrange College. “When you’re dealing with children and the state, there’s a lot of things to learn before you go forward.”

Task force members are all looking out for the best interests of the children, said member Wayne Pittman, vice president of human resources for MorningStar, a residential treatment program that includes in-home therapy, foster care programs and mental health clinics.

“We have a good representation of folks from throughout the city,” said Pittman, who lives in LaGrange and has an office in West Point. “We all want what’s in the kids’ best interests.”

Brubaker agreed.

“The group that is around that table cares about the individual children in the community. You may think you can put these kids to the side, but they are not excess citizens,” said Brubaker, who lives in Hogansville. “They are people and they can’t be forgotten.”

Other panel members are Ricky Bolden, Linda Buchanan, Zsa Zsa Heard, June Nelson, Tom Gore, Matt Orr and Joan Woodson.

Group homes came to the spotlight after the Nov. 14 shooting death of Joseph “Peace” Boison, a clerk at the Shell Mart on Vernon Street. Christopher Caruso, 18, who is charged with the slaying, had been a resident of a group home on Ridley Avenue until leaving a month earlier.

That group home is one of two on Ridley Avenue and one nearby on West Bacon Street designed for residents who display sexually inappropriate behavior. All three homes are owned by the same for-profit organization.

Sherri Brown can be reached at sbrown@lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 240.