Oregon daily emerald., January 13, 1986, Page 18, Image 18

Burial opinion spurs few debates
Nearly a month after a state attorney
general's opinion released counties from
responsibility for the burial of indigent people,
it appears that fewer problems have resulted
than were expected.
Attorney General Dave Frohnmaver issued
an opinion Dec. 13 stating that because of ac
tion by the 1985 state Legislature, neither the
counties nor the stats are responsible for bury
ing indigent individuals who have died and of
whom no relative can be located. And while
counties are allowed to bury indigents, the
opinion ruled that under existing law, no state
agency may pay for such burials and that the
legislative Emergency Board cannot ap
propriate money for burials.
“We believe the Legislature assumed that
counties would appropriate money for in
digent burials, but did not require them to do
so,” Frohnmayer wrote in a statement regar
ding the opinion. “I am personally offended
that our legal system results in this ultimate in
dignity. The Legislature should address this
inhumane situation at its earliest
opportunity."
The opinion was expected to cause pro
blems for county governments, which had lit
tle money to pay for indigent burials, and
funeral homes, which would be unsure how to
deal with indigent deaths.
“There is no statewide policy for how
counties should handle this,” said Bill
Walker, a food stamp administrator with the
state Adult and Family Services and a former
head of the indigent burial program. “Coun
ties have been paying in different degrees.
Even those that do have funds try to limit them
to the least amount possible."
Before the Legislature's actions, Adult
and Family Services paid for the majority of in
digent burials.
Although several legislators have met to
discuss the problem and formulate a plan for
the 1987 session, little can be done immediate
ly because the Emergency Board is barred from
appropriating funds for the burials. Walker
said. But while several problems have arisen,
they have been few and all have been resolved,
he said.
“It doesn’t appear to be as traumatic as an
ticipated," Walker said.
Until further state action. Lane County
will continue to pay for the cremation of in
digents. said Frank Ratti. a Lane County depu
ty medical examiner. Only two or three people
classified as indigents die in Lane County each
year, which means the cost to the county is
fairly small, he said.
BEST WISHES
FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO
KEVIN DAVIS&
DONALD
PLUSQUELLIC
OF THE LAW FIRM OF COOK & DAVIS
AKRON, OHIO
AND THEIR ASSOCIATE
TIMOTHY SHIMKO
OF THE LAW FIRM OF
SPANGENBERG, SHIBLEY, TRACI & LANCIONE
CLEVELAND, OHIO
, . •
(DON’T FORGET CASE NUMBER CV 85 4-1157)
RICHARD BRUCE WRIGHT. II
Batiste
Continued from Page B
development of the Centers of
Excellence concept, and the
development of the chancellor's
and vice-chancellor’s offices.
He also is complementary of
Chancellor William “Bud"
Davis.
Batiste, 63. has been concern
ed with education and has been
involved in public service for
many years.
“As the father of nine
children. 1 felt 1 had to become
involved." he says. “I felt it
was important to do something
for my kids as well as other
people's."
Indeed, he has done
something for his children. All
except one of his nine children
have graduated from, or are in.
college. Three of them attended
the University.
in the early J960s. his in
spiration for getting involved
came from national leaders such
as John F. Kennedy and Martin
Lpther King. •
Even before that, he .was in
volved with • compensatory
education — creating educa-.
tional opportunities for the
disadvantaged without bussing
— in the early 1950s when it
was even more controversial
than it would later become.
"1 grew up believing I could
have an effect on my communi
ty,” Batiste says.
He moved to Portland in 1947
to get a degree in chemical
engineering at the University of
Portland. Soon thereafter, he
got a job with the Bonneville
Power Administration where he
worked as a chemical engineer
until retiring in 1980.
He has long been involved in
public service. He was a
member of Portland's Model
Cities Commission, the Com
mission to Establish Tri-Met.
the Alberta Kerr Poverty Board
and has been active on the
Board of Catholic Charities and
the Boy Scouts.
When Straub asked him to
Join the board,° Batiste was
reluctant to accept because of
his lack of experience in highet
•education But his experience °
in finance and business “put
him in good stead to deal con-0
stmctively with the issues of
education,” he say s' • 0 .
One issue that he is' unhappy
about is the board's handling of .
divestiture He supports
divestiture, which the braird
voted for in 1978. arid believes •
the board should have hired, in
dependent counsel instead of
relying .on the state attorney-,
general's office to represent its
interests. The attorney general's’
office, the board's legal
counsel, has been acting against
board policy-. Batiste says. •
- lii.addition.he say*, the per
son who' testified at the *
divestiture trial for the board
took a position against
divestment..
"How we wound up Where
we. wound up. (being a defen
dant against divestiture) I just
don't understand," he said
"It’s a very uncomfortable posi-.
tion for.the board to be in.”
In looking over bis tenure on
the itourd. Batiste believes now t
• is a good time to leave.
“The last eight years have
been very tumultuous., but I feel
the system is in tietter shapc
now." he says
The first four years of his term
on the Ijoard were a time of
budget cuts, hopelessness and „ "
disappointment, he says. Hut
the last four years have been a „
time of hope. For the first time
since 1079. funding levels for
salaries, buildings and high- - -
technology are where they
should la?. Haliste says.
With progress in these areas,
the hoard has been able to free
its time to deal with internal
issues such as the Centers of Kx
cellence and affirmative action.
When his term is over, he is
looking forward to traveling in
California. Texas and Mexico.
By Gary Jimenez
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Monday. January 13, 1886