(Photo provided by Kevin L. Smith of The Cortland Voice).
The City of Cortland Common Council discussed the incoming opioid treatment facility at its meeting on Tuesday, which has previously drawn concern from residents and council members on its location.
The facility, under operation by Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services (CARS), will be located at 6 Euclid Ave. The street is primarily a residential area.
CARS is bringing in a facility after the Beacon Center, also a treatment facility, closed its doors a few years ago. CARS’ initiative for the facility is to provide methadone to patients. Methadone is a medication to treat opioid use disorder
While city residents and common council supported the work that CARS is putting forward, the residents and council members also expressed their displeasure on the location of the facility at the Sept. 19 council meeting.
Councilperson Wayne Schutt (D-1st Ward) said at Tuesday’s meeting that a small community gathered with CARS representatives to further express concern for the facility.
Schutt noted that residents from Euclid Avenue, Miller Street and surrounding areas attended the meeting. Schutt and councilperson Bill Carpenter’s wards split Euclid Avenue in half, including CARS’ future facility.
Schutt said the community meeting came with some strong opinions about the facility coming in after the Beacon Center caused issues in the past. Schutt added, however, that it quickly went into a good exchange.
“I thought everybody came to the point where they understood this (facility) is going to happen, but maybe we can make it a little better,” Schutt said.
Ideas for the facility brought up at the community meeting were a large and solid stockade fence that can’t be seen through, lights at all corners of the facility, no-loitering signs where people congregate before entering the building and more.
The ideas came forward after the Beacon Center brought increased foot traffic and other issues caused by the former facility.
“Logic was going to prevail, and these are things that will make it a safer place within the community,” Schutt said.
Schutt said he left the community meeting with the feeling that CARS wants to work with the city and its residents. He noted the exact opposite feeling at the Sept. 19 meeting.
“The community feels as though CARS may help and work with them,” Schutt said. “I think we’ll find out, at the next meeting, the steps CARS will take on how much they want to work with the community. My hope is they let logic go all the way through. Yes, things are going to cost a bit to get done, but to make it right for the neighbors is just simple logic. The goal is to make this a safe place for the center, but also for the people living around it.”
Carpenter appreciated the cooperation from CARS and gave the residents an opportunity to voice their opinions, including issues with increased foot traffic and littering behind residences.
“I can understand the frustration,” Carpenter said. “We’re going to work together and put together some sort of resolution.”
Further details surrounding CARS’ facility can be found here.
