Edward J. Gallagher said he has "no bias" against people who are mentally ill, but wants to know if he should be afraid if one of his grandchildren is approached by a resident of a group home that is being prepared in his Hermitage neighborhood.

The resident of Richmond Drive, accompanied by about half a dozen family members and neighbors, said he wants to know if residents will be supervised, have any history of violence or sexual abuse and are staying on their medication.

Gallagher said the neighborhood is made up mostly of senior citizens, with a few young families, and was "shocked" when a maintenance man working at the house told him what it was being prepared for.

"We're trying to get our questions answered so we don't have any fears or problems," he told city commissioners Thursday.

But some of those questions will not be answered.