About the Board
The Board of Visitors is established under 13.33 of the Mental Hygiene Law. It is made up of volunteer advocates for people who are receiving care and treatment from New York State operated psychiatric centers, children's psychiatric centers and facilities operated by OPWDD's developmental services offices. The Board of Visitors operates within facilities managed by the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities and the Office of Mental Health. The board performs inspections of OPWDD's state-operated residences and provides guidance related to the operation of OPWDD-run programs.
Membership
The Board of Visitors is made up of members from area Boards of Visitors that represent operations across the state. Each developmental disabilities state operations office (DDSOO) should have a minimum of seven Board of Visitors members but not more than 14 members. Any DDSOO with less than seven members has vacant positions.
Members do not receive compensation, but can be reimbursed for their actual expenses in connection with their service to the Board of Visitors. Members are appointed or reappointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent with the Senate.
| Member, County of Residence | DDSOO | DDSOO Region |
|---|---|---|
| David Breen, M.D., Livingston | 1 | Finger Lakes |
| Sherilyn Coleman-Ferrer, Monroe | 1 | Finger Lakes |
| Anne Marie Ormiston, Monroe | 1 | Finger Lakes |
| Bernice Ziehm, Monroe | 1 | Finger Lakes |
| Charles Case, Erie | 1 | Western NY |
| Michael Rogers, Erie | 1 | Western NY |
| Ann Scherff, Genesee | 1 | Western NY |
| James Yonai, Livingston | 1 | Western NY |
| Margherita Rossi, Broome | 2 | Broome |
| Roger Benn, Madison | 2 | Central NY |
| Virginia Ellis, Cayuga | 2 | Central NY |
| Laura Kiefer, Herkimer | 2 | Central NY |
| Jan Kleese, Oneida | 2 | Central NY |
| Young Hee Lee, Onondaga | 2 | Central NY |
| Carol Neveu, Oneida | 2 | Central NY |
| Jeannine LeRoy Nolan, Onondaga | 2 | Central NY |
| Susan O'Connor, Albany | 3 | Capital District |
| Nirmala Sankaran, Albany | 3 | Capital District |
| Linda Sartoris, Saratoga | 3 | Capital District |
| Kathe Sheehan, Schenectady | 3 | Capital District |
| Patricia Wright, Saratoga | 3 | Capital District |
| Gilbert Duken, Clinton | 3 | Sunmount |
| Paul Maroun, Esq., Franklin | 3 | Sunmount |
| Wayne Rogers, Franklin | 3 | Sunmount |
| William Evans, Dutchess | 4 | Hudson Valley |
| Charles Scheinberg, Westchester | 4 | Hudson Valley |
| Ron Lehrer, Dutchess | 4 | Taconic |
| Mark Searle, Dutchess | 4 | Taconic |
| Cheryl Wilcox, Dutchess | 4 | Taconic |
| Enrique Colon, Bronx | 5 | Metro |
| Willie Mae Goodman, New York | 5 | Metro |
| Josephine Maldonado, Bronx | 5 | Metro |
| Fredericka Pol, Bronx | 5 | Metro |
| Diane Carbonaro, Richmond | 5 | Staten Island |
| Joanne Certo, Richmond | 5 | Staten Island |
| Edward J. Checkett, Richmond | 5 | Staten Island |
| Christine Dickhut, Richmond | 5 | Staten Island |
| Robert McCarren, Richmond | 5 | Staten Island |
| Frank Tellefsen, Richmond | 5 | Staten Island |
| Patricia Yandoli, Richmond | 5 | Staten Island |
| Mary Fasano, Nassau | 6 | Long Island |