NORWICH – County officials on Monday unexpectedly laid out a number of concerns about the Valley Ridge Center for Intensive Treatment (CIT) facility in Norwich, resulting in a formal request to state politicians and Valley Ridge representatives to separate facts from misconceptions about the facility.
The Chenango County Board of Supervisors unanimously backed the gesture brought to the floor just minutes before adjourning the December monthly meeting on Monday. The motion, made by Plymouth Supervisor Jerry Kreiner, requests that State Senators Tom Libous and James Seward, and State Assemblymen Clifford Crouch and Gary Finch attend a Board of Supervisors’ meeting in February. The purpose of the visit, according to Board members, would be to clarify the function and manner of operation of the CIT facility on County Road 46 in the Town of Norwich.
The same request is also being sent to representatives of Valley Ridge.
The formal request was the result of discussion started by Town of Norwich Supervisor David Law. Law said during the meeting that an incident at Norwich Town Court earlier this month led to the detaining of Valley Ridge CIT residents at the Chenango County Correctional Facility.
“A couple of them made their exit and were caught,” said Law. “They were referred back to the (CIT) facility and the state said we were overstepping our boundaries, so we had to have them arrested and put in the jail.”
Having them in the Chenango County jail is costing local taxpayers money, added Law. He also pointed out that on top of regular costs of inmates, the county is also responsible to foot the bill of medications for inmates. Law also recalled that when the CIT facility was built, county officials were promised by the state that operations at Valley Ridge would not come at a cost to the county.
“I would like to see some of our politicians who are higher up in here for the February meeting, and also someone representing the CIT to let us know what is actually going on,” Law continued. “I feel we’re heading down a road where someone will either be hurt real bad or the county will be stuck with a bill we don’t want. I’m really concerned about this.”
While the county has no definite word on whether or not elected officials will attend February’s monthly meeting, Valley Ridge representatives have already been added to the schedule, according to Chenango Mental Hygiene Services Director Ruth Roberts.
Roberts also explained to the Board of Supervisors that since Valley Ridge is operated through the New York State Office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities and not the Department of Corrections, its residents are entitled to certain privileges through federal and state laws.
“CIT is a state operated facility that’s undergoing many changes,” Roberts said.
Several allegations of misconduct of Valley Ridge employees have surfaced in recent months, including one incident in October when an employee was accused of hitting a CIT resident and injuring his mouth during a dispute.
Anonymous reports submitted to The Evening Sun have also voiced concerns from county residents that Valley Ridge residents are being integrated into the community, including at community events. Roberts said laws for persons with disabilities exist that give them the right to “live in an integrated setting.”
“The challenge is they are not considered criminals in the law because of their developmental disabilities,” Roberts said. “So there has been a push, often times from a legal perspective and civil rights perspective.”
Roberts also added, “I too am concerned about the safety of those who work in the facility as well as the public, and for that matter I am also concerned about the safety of individuals who are residing there.”
“One of the biggest concerns is that when they first talked about building here, we were told those folks weren’t going to be out it the community,” said Plymouth Supervisor Jerry Kreiner. “Obviously there are probably other concerns that people will get to, but I don’t think anyone on the board disagrees with that concern.”