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Ayotte says state will replenish victim fund before year’s end

Ayotte says state will replenish victim fund before year’s end

AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File Photo: Associated Press


MANCHESTER, N.H.- The Executive Council has approved an additional $20 million that will go to the Sununu Youth Development Center settlement fund in effort to help resolve claims of abuse by people who claim they were abused while in state custody.

Speaking during Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting in Manchester that she’s confident the state will end up approving another $35 million through the end of this fiscal year to process damage awards sought by alleged victims of sexual and physical abuse at the former Youth Development Center.

However, the amount approved Wednesday may not be enough, as fund administrator Geral Boyle warned that the fund will run out of money by the end of year and said they need $55 million to keep the fund going through the next year.

The funding is the first action by the Governor following a recent report from the Attorney General’s office related to claims of abuse at the Sununu Youth Services Center. Other moves taken include the approval of a $1.3 million contract with Amergis Healthcare Staffing LLC of Columbia, Maryland, who will provide temporary staffing at the center. And hiring of real estate agents Cushman and Wakefield to assist in the selling of property in Manchester for a private development.

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