PORT JERVIS, NY — Port Jervis Mayor Kelly Decker reported at the  January 22 council meeting that progress that has been made regarding the proposed Methadone/Suboxone Clinic in Port Jervis. After several residents spoke up at the meeting both for and against the proposed clinic, he said he had had a meeting with Dr. Jolly, the COO of Cornerstone Family Helathcare, the organization that is planning to bring the walk-in clinic to the city.

Decker said, “Friday, I, along with councilwomen Maria Mann and Lisa Randazzo, police chief Worden, building official Dave Rivera, and corporation counsel Bill Bavoso met with David Jolly COO and Michael Limperopulos, chief of staff of Cornerstone.”

According to Decker, Cornerstone acknowledged that residents have issues of concern, and he said they want to work with the town and community. He said Cornerstone would try to host a community forum to hear residents’ views, although no firm date has been set yet.

Decker said that in the meeting, he asked “67 prepared questions that Dr. Jolly gave answers to many, but will give us further information and answers to questions he did not have answers to.”

Cornerstone is a non-profit business that believes the public would be better served if a clinic were to open in Port Jervis as opposed to other locations in Orange County.

One of the issues discussed is the location of the proposed clinic. Cornerstone is looking at several locations, both in and outside the city. Decker said Jolly had met with a realtor about the Roberta Glinton Building across the street from Bon Secours Hospital, but that the cost was prohibitive, and that there were plumbing issues. He agreed to take another look, according to Decker.

Port Jervis officials questioned why Cornerstone wants to bring the clinic to Port Jervis. In the 12771 zip code, which includes Port Jervis and several hamlets, there are between 50 to 80 participants in the methadone/Suboxone program offered in Newburgh, and now they are bused to the program.

“We discussed whether it would be easier and cheaper to have 50 to 80 clients from Port Jervis transported to a centralized location instead of transporting 180 to 200 clients here,” Decker explained.

Jolly said the decision on location was being made on recommendations from county officials.

The treatments Cornerstone will offer in the clinic are Methadone, Suboxone and Vivatrol, and the treatment could last for up to 10 years for some patients.

Decker, a former police officer, said he also discussed with Jolly that the facility could possibly attract criminal elements. Jolly responded that Cornerstone works closely with the police.

When asked what could be the earliest date that a clinic could open if they were to open in Port Jervis, Dr. Jolly stated January 1, 2019.

Two lengthy posts on Decker’s Facebook page urged members of the community to speak out against a couple of the proposed locations for the clinic, especially the Hunt Building located at 123 Pike St.

Decker noted that he and members of the council have little control over the types of businesses and organization that open in the city. But, he wrote, the planning and zoning boards do have some control via zoning laws. 

Decker wrote, “Also according to the definitions of ‘hospital’ and of ‘office,’ ‘professional’ and ‘business’ in the zoning law, a methadone clinic/dispensary would clearly fall under the definition of a hospital, thus requiring a use variance in the Commercial Business District so the public will be able to comment should Cornerstone decide to go in front of the zoning board of appeals.”