The Bradford Township Supervisors passed an ordinance on Monday amending its zoning rules, bringing Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Inc. one step closer to moving its Port Allegany facility to the township.
Prior to the regular township meeting on Monday, a public hearing was held on the change, which called for including residential drug and alcohol facilities as a permitted use in R-8 residential districts, CN neighborhood commercial districts, C-1 business districts, C-2 general commercial districts and M-2 light manufacturing districts.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services is taking steps to move Maple Manor — an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment facility it operates in Port Allegany — to the former Heritage Suites site on Minard Run Road. The organization is looking at a larger location in order to house more clients and expand its services.
Zoning board member Jean Hvizdzak also noted during the meeting that one reason the amendment is important is the ordinance needed to be changed to be legally up-to-date.
While residents had some questions stemming from concerns about the proposed facility — such as whether police would be available to handle any issues and whether the facility’s tenants would have access to drugs — no one appeared to have strong objections.
Supervisor Gayle Bauer noted the Port Allegany police chief attended a previous hearing on the facility and reported he’s had “two calls in 20 years, and neither one of the them amounted to anything.” She added later in the meeting the Port Allegany mayor — who lives in the neighborhood of Maple Manor — had said in one meeting he was sorry to see the program was leaving Port Allegany.
Describing how secure the facility would be, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Executive Director Angela Eckstrom explained that while tenants are not locked in, they have to be buzzed in to return. There will be 24-hours surveillance by staff members, and clients are tested regularly for drug and alcohol use.
Eckstrom attended the hearing along with Tom Patterson, inpatient program manager; and Judy LeRoy, McKean County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services board member.
Patterson noted that if any clients display “peculiar” behavior, they are drug-tested and their rooms checked. He explained that admission into the treatment program is voluntary and, for the most part, clients “want to do their 28 days, or 90 days for long-term, and get on with their lives.”
Eckstrom said the number one substance clients were addicted to when they came to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services program was alcohol, though she noted there were many with opioid addiction, too.
When township resident Rocco Camas asked the difference between this program and that offered at Bradford Regional Medical Center, Eckstrom said the program at BRMC is a locked facility, and it accepts clients with serious mental illnesses. Maple Manor does not accept clients with serious mental illnesses.
Another resident — who said he lives about 200 yards from Heritage Suites — chimed in. “I think it’s a wonderful idea Rocco.” To further indicate his faith the program wouldn’t be a safety hazard in the community, he noted he went through the Port Allegany Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services program himself and reiterated that clients are supervised 24 hours a day. “They got my vote,” he said.
Supervisor Steve Mascho noted at the hearing that the former hotel would only be able to be used for certain purposes and indicated it might be difficult to find another potential purchaser. Of bringing the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services program to the building, he said, “It think it’s a great fit.”
Following protocol, the supervisors waited until the regular meeting to cast their votes for the amendment, which was unanimously adopted. The change becomes effective five days after the vote.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Inc., a non-profit organization, operates nine facilities within Cameron, Elk and McKean counties, as well as provides contract services in Potter County.
