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REGULAR MEETING March 11, 2019
<br /> Mr. Adolf replied, These clients would be attending intensive out-patient classes at Choices
<br /> Recovery. This building would just be their living space.
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden asked, So, is it an after-care program?
<br /> Ms.Brown replied,Yes,it would be very similar to an after-care program,but they would be living
<br /> and residing there. To break this down for you, in layman's terms, it would be getting an
<br /> endorsement. The accreditation through CARF tells us we are doing the right thing. It is an
<br /> endorsement that we are about the right thing. It is having 2,000 questions come at us that we don't
<br /> necessarily have to answer but we want to, because we want to show we are doing the right thing.
<br /> It is an endorsement. That is what we want to have.
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden stated, This is, to me, a satellite, in some regards, right? You are at
<br /> a main hub and you enumerated what you are serving down the road. This is a satellite of that.
<br /> Zoning is forever. So, well, forever until someone comes in and does what you are doing. But, to
<br /> my question, if your main location fails, goes under, and doesn't meet accreditation, what can be
<br /> or will be fulfilled in terms of services to the community at this stand-alone location?
<br /> Mr. Gerrard replied, So, the question is if our main operation Choices Recovery, fails, what
<br /> happens to this building? Well, at that point in time, if I had no clients to put into that building, I
<br /> would probably have to put the building up for sale. That is the only answer I can give you.
<br /> Councilmember John Voorde returned to the meeting at 8:38 p.m. He reassumed Chairmanship.
<br /> Councilmember Sharon L. McBride stated, First (1St) of all, I would like to thank all of you for
<br /> coming before Council and you have answered whatever we've asked. I'm sorry for the delay but
<br /> you went back to the community and got additional information. With me, actually building a
<br /> work-release facility myself, one(1), it is not accredited, nor does it have to be. We fall under the
<br /> DoC standards. However, I could become accredited,but we fall under the auspice and operate as
<br /> though we were so. We are evidence-based and perform at the highest level. So, falling under the
<br /> DoC umbrella, I understand the license to occupy. There is a difference.There is also a difference,
<br /> I'm in the middle of five(5)lawsuits.Whether they be true or not,it happens.You can sue someone
<br /> every day and I remember the information we got, I recall there were complaints from 2011 and
<br /> 2008,prior to your four(4) years. I'm just trying to answer some questions I'm remembering that
<br /> were thrown out there. Secondly, I would hope that had you known you were asked about square
<br /> footage and occupancy numbers,beforehand, you could have provided that. Not being an architect
<br /> or Fire Marshal yourself, that is a hard number to come up with without knowing in advance. I
<br /> would have tried to be a liaison for you to do so. I know at the last meeting we did have, although
<br /> we are not talking about your current location, it is reflected in the minutes that the Council did
<br /> ask for you to make commitments at your current location, as well. I want it to be reflected on the
<br /> record that was asked of you. I appreciate you providing that information as well. It is a hard
<br /> number for you to give out when you are not aware of it. What I can say, in my profession, and
<br /> going to the third (3`d) district and talking to them, they are in support of this and I am in support
<br /> of this. We have an opioid crisis right now and it is very relevant to what we are doing. Looking
<br /> at the criteria, in my interpretation, I am in support of the fact that it falls under the auspice of what
<br /> I am tasked to look at. I appreciate you and I will be in support.
<br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston stated, Somebody made comments at the last
<br /> presentation about looking for other sites. Who can speak on that?
<br /> Mr. Adolf replied, I have our realtor with us. She is from Cressy Everett Realty. I know at the last
<br /> meeting I talked about her and I having looked for multiple months, three (3) or four (4) months
<br /> and,thinking back on it,it goes back prior to a year ago. We tried to make a deal go through on an
<br /> apartment complex here in South Bend over a year ago. So, we've been looking for quite some
<br /> time. It has been very difficult to find a building that fits our needs and is in our price range. As
<br /> you can imagine, we are looking for mainly occupancy bedroom space. We don't need a garage,
<br /> we don't need a full kitchen, and most of those things don't come with a normal property. And the
<br /> things that don't have those things are,usually, very large apartment complexes that are out of our
<br /> budget. So, we've been looking for quite some time.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis stated, While my colleague did reference the fact that some of the
<br /> legal matters happened in 2011, I think the difference between her location which is out not near
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