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Clinic agrees to seek new site, mayor says

OBSERVER File Photo Hispanics United of Buffalo has decided to seek a different site location for the opioid clinic. It will not be at the pictured building, as first suggested.

OBSERVER Staff Report

It appears the methadone clinic will be looking at other options for a future site in Dunkirk.

Mayor Willie Rosas announced Wednesday afternoon that after meeting for several hours with officials from Hispanics United of Buffalo in regard to the proposed opioid clinic, the organization has agreed to seek a different site location for the opioid clinic to be established here within the city.

“The clinic providers have been extremely cooperative, and have listened to the concerns and issues that the parents and I have brought up,” Rosas said. “It is their desire to be good community partners, and they do not want to be the agency that is seen as responsible for the closing of Northern Chautauqua Catholic School.”

In recent weeks, the clinic was proposed for Third Street and Park Avenue, which is located within a close proximity to the school. However, other locations will now be considered.

Parents from the school have made pleas within the last month to the city and provider to consider a relocation. Tamara Benjamin, city resident who sends her children to NCCS, said at the July 3 council meeting she found the plan to be underdeveloped and unsafe for children. A major contention point for her pertained to the lack of screening for clients who have a past history of being a pedophile or sex offender. “No, not all addicts have this kind of history, but to think none do is being incredibly naive in this day in age,” she said. “HUB is completely negligent in knowingly placing any child in harms way by not having proper screening and protocols in place…”

NCCS is battling for survival. The school has recently made a plea for donations due to a fiscal crisis it is facing. The clinic’s location was seen as an additional detriment to the school.

Rosas also reiterated the importance of the facility being in the city. “This clinic is needed here in Dunkirk, and we are grateful that the operators are willing to establish a clinic here, and in a location that will be accessible to those in need while building strong alliances with the surrounding areas,” he said.

NCCS Principal Jenny Tilaro said they’re elated that the clinic is not going to be in close proximity to the school.

“We appreciate them for listening to our concerns, thinking about our childrens’ safety and looking elsewhere for a location,” she said. “We know it’s not going to be easy for them because anywhere they go, someone will gripe about it.”

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