May 13, 2008
Council Unanimously Passes Resolution of Support for Proposed Healing Place
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – When first introduced as a resolution to support the establishment of The Healing Place of Huntington, city council and citizens had a lot of questions. At the time, the just in the planning stage facility’s representative could not provide the specifics. That led to postponment.
On Monday evening, May 12, 2008, after council member Scott Caserta had attended one of the planning meetings at Christ Temple and the Mayor had visited the to be replicated Louisville, Ky. Campus along with various supporters and news media, the measure received resounding support.
Answering an audience skeptic, Huntington Mayor David Felinton beamed “it’s clean,it’s not a magnet for people you don’t want around, [and they are] well mannered.”
Independent Mayoral Candidate Tom McCallister expressed the most misgivings.
“We were led down primrose lane on feel good [places] for people with problems,” he said stating the problems that have occurred around the former Fifth Avenue Hotel and the Cabell County Public Library.
Felinton assured McCallister and others that active addicts and active dealers stay away from the Louisville model. “They are afraid of preaching,” the Mayor said.
Kim Miller, a planner for Healing Place Huntington, emphasized that the local facility would have a capacity of 50 men. The organization is looking at property with a minimum of 30,000 square feet. They have looked at Regency Place, the Steelworkers Union Hall (Guyandotte), and the shell of the former Ames/Hills Building on Fifth Street Road, as well as an unoccupied Fairfield area church.
No decisions have been made since the group does not have purchase funds. “All [the other] programs operated on donated land or property,” Miller said. As an addiction counselor herself , she stressed that the Healing Place model attracts only those serious about gaining help for their alcohol or drug problems. “There are no attive addicts or dealers,” Miller explained.
Council member Scott Caserta emphasized that the resolution did not place council’s stamp of approval on any particular location. “It’s simply a nod of appreciation… for the grassroots community support,” he said.
The Louisville model has attained a success rate that is five times the national average with a peer to peer program in which recovering addicts at one stage pull up addicts at a lower stage.
Kentucky also has smaller replicated facilities in Louisa and Morehead.
CAMERA SURVEILLANCE PASSES
The lone second reading concerned the purchase of video surveillance cameras for Harris River Front Park, the Big Sandy Super Store Arena and the HMPB garage. Mayor Felinton stated the installation would have the ability of 24/7 monitoring or if no one was actively watching the scene would be recorded for later review.
PARKING BOARD
Councilman Dr. Calvin Kent withdrew his proposed ordinance to place much of the responsibilities of the Huntington Municiple Parking Board under the Department of Administration and Finance. Following a review of the proposal by parking board members, they concluded that the authority must exist to maintain already issued revenue bonds.
While the meter attendants have been placed under the Huntington Police Department, the board still believes a director or supervisor is necessary, but with reduced responsibilities and a downsizing of the $51,000 salary currently allocated.
The administration preferred delaying specific alterations until Captain Wilson has additional time to access the needs of the enterprise funded organization.
BUSINESS INCENTIVES
Two ordinances which would modify B & O tax breaks for new or expanding businesses has been sent back to the Finance Committee for further review, including tweaking the proposed 2% B & O construction rebate. The Committee had discussed that a blanket exemption would allow Marshall University to receive the rebate. With the referal back to the committee, both of the B & O tax incentive ordinances will be rewritten.
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Council Unanimously Passes Resolution of Support for Proposed Healing Place
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – When first introduced as a resolution to support the establishment of The Healing Place of Huntington, city council and citizens had a lot of questions. At the time, the just in the planning stage facility’s representative could not provide the specifics. That led to postponment.
On Monday evening, May 12, 2008, after council member Scott Caserta had attended one of the planning meetings at Christ Temple and the Mayor had visited the to be replicated Louisville, Ky. Campus along with various supporters and news media, the measure received resounding support.
Answering an audience skeptic, Huntington Mayor David Felinton beamed “it’s clean,it’s not a magnet for people you don’t want around, [and they are] well mannered.”
Independent Mayoral Candidate Tom McCallister expressed the most misgivings.
“We were led down primrose lane on feel good [places] for people with problems,” he said stating the problems that have occurred around the former Fifth Avenue Hotel and the Cabell County Public Library.
Felinton assured McCallister and others that active addicts and active dealers stay away from the Louisville model. “They are afraid of preaching,” the Mayor said.
Kim Miller, a planner for Healing Place Huntington, emphasized that the local facility would have a capacity of 50 men. The organization is looking at property with a minimum of 30,000 square feet. They have looked at Regency Place, the Steelworkers Union Hall (Guyandotte), and the shell of the former Ames/Hills Building on Fifth Street Road, as well as an unoccupied Fairfield area church.
No decisions have been made since the group does not have purchase funds. “All [the other] programs operated on donated land or property,” Miller said. As an addiction counselor herself , she stressed that the Healing Place model attracts only those serious about gaining help for their alcohol or drug problems. “There are no attive addicts or dealers,” Miller explained.
Council member Scott Caserta emphasized that the resolution did not place council’s stamp of approval on any particular location. “It’s simply a nod of appreciation… for the grassroots community support,” he said.
The Louisville model has attained a success rate that is five times the national average with a peer to peer program in which recovering addicts at one stage pull up addicts at a lower stage.
Kentucky also has smaller replicated facilities in Louisa and Morehead.
CAMERA SURVEILLANCE PASSES
The lone second reading concerned the purchase of video surveillance cameras for Harris River Front Park, the Big Sandy Super Store Arena and the HMPB garage. Mayor Felinton stated the installation would have the ability of 24/7 monitoring or if no one was actively watching the scene would be recorded for later review.
PARKING BOARD
Councilman Dr. Calvin Kent withdrew his proposed ordinance to place much of the responsibilities of the Huntington Municiple Parking Board under the Department of Administration and Finance. Following a review of the proposal by parking board members, they concluded that the authority must exist to maintain already issued revenue bonds.
While the meter attendants have been placed under the Huntington Police Department, the board still believes a director or supervisor is necessary, but with reduced responsibilities and a downsizing of the $51,000 salary currently allocated.
The administration preferred delaying specific alterations until Captain Wilson has additional time to access the needs of the enterprise funded organization.
BUSINESS INCENTIVES
Two ordinances which would modify B & O tax breaks for new or expanding businesses has been sent back to the Finance Committee for further review, including tweaking the proposed 2% B & O construction rebate. The Committee had discussed that a blanket exemption would allow Marshall University to receive the rebate. With the referal back to the committee, both of the B & O tax incentive ordinances will be rewritten.
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