Club Serenity addresses concerns

By Eric Seiverling

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Monessen officials and residents gathered at City Hall Friday evening to meet with members of a substance abuse recovery group that plans to open a recovery house in a residential part of the city later this year.

The meeting was organized by Mayor Matt Shorraw and attracted about a dozen residents to meet with representatives from Club Serenity, Inc., a Charleroi-based enterprise that owns a women’s recovery house at 17 McKee Ave. Councilwoman Lois Thomas also attended.

Club Serenity recently purchased a home in the 1200 block of Nash Avenue with the purpose of opening a men’s substance abuse recovery house.

Many Monessen residents have voiced opposition to the recovery house, with concerns ranging from ordinance violations, potential criminal activity and neighborhood safety.

According to Club Serenity President/Treasurer Mark St. Cyr, the house will lodge six men who have already gone through a 12-step substance abuse program and have been referred to the house by an outside organization, such as a doctor, hospital or halfway house.

“They must go through a screening process where we ask about their past, their goals and what they want to do with their life,” said St. Cyr, who was joined by Club Serenity vice president Lee Roberts, executive secretary Mindi McCloy and house liaison April Kolick.

While the group told residents that the men who reside at the house must be employed, will have a curfew and will need permission to leave the house for an extended time, residents voiced their concern about having the recovery house in their backyard.

To read the rest of the story, please see a copy of Saturday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.