Las Vegas City Commission Minutes, November 20, 1957 to December 2, 1959, lvc000011-407

Mr. Carl Christensen, Attorney, representing Mrs. Mormon (who was also present) introduced himself to the Mayor and Board, stating that he wished to show facts and circumstances in her defense why favorable consideration should be given to Mrs. Mormon in this matter. He mentioned that a report had been filed against her and that she was not aware of the charges contained therein. His Honor Mayor Baker requested Mr. Christensen to follow closely the reported violations as set forth in the show cause order which were the concern of the Board at this heating. Mr. Christensen referred to the letter of April 3, 1959, citing Mrs. Mormon to appear to show cause and with regard to Item (1) Failure to properly isolate or remove a child from her nursery upon discovery that said child had a contagious disease, he pointed out the fact that there was no name or date mentioned. He stated that Mrs. Mormon had insufficient knowledge as to what she had to show cause for. Mayor Baker reminded him that this was not a court of law and that the volunteer group of civic minded citizens who make up the Child Welfare Board had found certain violations which he was certain Mrs. Mormon had knowledge of. Furthermore that the Board of City Commissioners have every confidence in the Child Welfare Board and its recommendations regarding the operations and regulations of child nurseries in the City of Las Vegas. At this time Mr. Christensen introduced Mrs. Connie Mormon to speak in her own behalf. She stated that she did have a child with a case of chicken pox in her nursery at 827 South 7th whom she isolated in an isolation room with bathroom that passed qualifications of the Board of Health. She stated this child had been living with her for two years this July and when she took ill she put her to bed in the isolation room and that no one went into that room other than herself, her housekeeper and her own daughter who had already had chicken pox. She stated that in her experience with this disease and according to information from doctors that she was led to believe that two days before a child breaks out the disease can be communicated and after that is contagious upon touch. She stated further that she did not know she was violating a law by keeping this child and that had she known that she was putting herself in jeopardy she would have committed the child to a hospital. She added further that she was guilty of having this child in this isolation room, but that Dr. D. D. Carr, Health Officer, Clark County Health Department, had informed her that he could see nothing wrong with this arrangement. Mrs. Mormon went on to say that she did the best to her knowledge in the last six years experience of caring for children in this City. His Honor Mayor Baker stated that the crux of this situation is the reaction of child nursery operators to the laws and regulations as set up by the Child Welfare Board and cooperation with this agency that has been set up to govern operation of child welfare nurseries. He stated that it appeared that Mrs. Mormon had apparently flaunted these recommendations. He added that if Mrs. Mormon had these statements from doctors, that would be a point, but as far as the Commission is concerned they were concerned with the reports from the Child Welfare Board and their periodical examinations of child care nurseries and cooperation is expected from the operators and if there was any misunderstanding it goes to this Board who devote time and effort to maintaining the nurseries in accordance with City Ordinance and this Board recommends to the City Commission corrective measures to see that minor children are properly cared for. His Honor continued that they should confine themselves as to whether or not Mrs. Mormon was, or was not, going to cooperate with the agencies of the City. Mrs. Mormon stated that nothing was said as to what to do with the 24 hour child under the circumstances involved. Commissioner Fountain asked Mrs. Mormon if she did not realize that as an operator of this type of home she would have to come to the Chid Welfare Board and go over rules of the City. He further stated that he believed she had a persecution complex and that when the Child Welfare Officer or members of the Child Welfare Board called on her she fought with them and called them names. Mrs. Mormon denied that she did this. Commissioner Whipple verified the fact that the child in question who had chicken pox was Debbie Quam and asked if Mrs. Mormon contacted Dr. Ryan at the time the child was taken ill or if she had called any doctor in this regard. Mrs. Mormon stated that she did not contact Dr. Ryan and did not say that she had nor had she called any doctor, but that she knew what to do and she put the child to bed and isolated her and put calamine lotion on the rash. Commissioner Whipple stated that this was not the point as Mrs. Mormon did know the child had a contagious disease and was in the same building where other children were being cared for and asked her what she did to protect the other children. Mrs. Mormon answered that she put the child in the isolation room and that her daughter was allowed in this room as she had already had the chicken pox. Commissioner Whipple asked Mrs. Mormon what her attitude was when called upon by the Child Welfare Officer or members of the Child Welfare Board and expressed the Commission's concern of the operation under these licenses in the City of Las Vegas. Mrs. Mormon stated that her feeling toward the Board was to work together with them. She stated that there was no law to quarantine the whole establishment and if she broke a rule it was because this child makes her home with her. Commissioner Whipple referred to Item (2) in the letter of April 3, 1959, citing Mrs. Mormon to appear which stated that Mrs. Mormon failed to obey instructions to take no additional children after service of notice to take no furthe-children for a period of two weeks and asked if she did take any children in after she received this letter and Mrs. Mormon answered that she did not. She stated that she registered two children while the Child Welfare Officer was waiting to serve this notice. In answer to Commissioner Sharp's question she stated that she had not as yet read the notice. She said she read and signed the notice after she had registered these two children. Commissioner Whipple asked Mrs. Mormon if she took children under two years of age and she replied that she did not to her knowledge. Commissioner Fountain asked if she would not know if a child was under two and Mrs. Mormon stated she asked the mother the age of the child and would register the child if the age was over two. 4-15-49