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YEAH, THE PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME.
WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THOSE WOULD ASSEMBLE HERE THIS EVENING AND GUIDE THEM AND LEAD THEM TO MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE FAIR AND WISE.
AND JUST, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS KEEP, WATCH OVER THE LEADERS OF THE CITIZENS HERE THEY'RE SAVING, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING IN ALL THINGS, HELP US TO FEEL YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR POWER WATCH OVER AND PROTECT THOSE RECEIVING THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE SAFE JOURNEYS COMING IN JESUS' NAME.
WE PRAY UPON
MR. MAYOR ALDERMAN RUSS CONNOR, 1200 FOREST DRIVE.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING PHOENIX HOUSE.
I'M ON THE BOARD FOR PHOENIX HOUSE.
WE HAVE A DUAL PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE.
ONE, WE WANT TO GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF EDUCATION AS TO WHAT PHOENIX HOUSE IS AND DOES.
AND ONE OF THE CITY'S BUILDINGS TOO, IS WE DO WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.
IN THE PAST, UH, PHOENIX HOUSE WAS STARTED IN 1989 BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THEY COULD DO SOMETHING MORE FOR RECOVERY THAN SIMPLY, UH, GOING TO TREATMENT CENTER OR GOING TO JAIL OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO A GROUP OF, OF BOTH, UH, UH, PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HAVE ADDICTIVE PROBLEMS AND ADDICTIVE USERS GOT TOGETHER AND FORMED PHOENIX HOUSE, PHOENIX HOUSE LOOK FOR A HOME.
UM, AT THAT TIME ALDERMAN BALANCER WAS ON WAS ALDERMAN AND HE HELPED US SECURE, UH, WHAT USED TO BE THE OLD OIL COMPANY BUILDING AT 5 0 6 CYPRESS STREET.
WE RENOVATED THE FRONT END AND WE SPENT CONSIDERABLE MONEY AND TIME RENOVATING IT.
AND SINCE THAT TIME WE'VE BEEN USING IT FOR MEETING PLACES FOR, FOR PLACEMENT, FOR ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS AND NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS AND RECOVERY GROUPS.
DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAVE MADE LARGE STRIDES IN THE THINGS WE'RE DOING TO AFFECT RECOVERY FOR, FOR THE CITY OF NEWBURGH.
UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE MORE THAN 1200 VOLUNTEER HOURS PER MONTH THAT GO INTO PHOENIX HOUSE.
WE ARE FUNDED PRIMARILY THROUGH UNITED WAY.
WE, WE DO NOT ASK FOR ANY, ANY OTHER TAX SUPPORT, A TAX SALE, OR WE DON'T DO ANY IN LARGE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS.
UM, WE CURRENTLY SERVE AS DURING THE MONTH, ABOUT 400, A LITTLE OVER 400 CLIENTS, THAT'S BOTH WALK-IN AND PHONE CALL.
AND THOSE THAT ATTEND MEETINGS AT THE, AT THE MEETING FACILITY PLACE, WE'RE CURRENTLY OVERSEEING THREE HALFWAY HOUSES IN THE CITY OF NEWTON.
THE HALFWAY HOUSES ARE, ARE PLACES THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME OUT OF THE TREATMENT CENTERS OR HAVE COME OUT OF, UM, UH, INSTITUTIONS, UH, JAILS, WHATEVER THAT NEED FOR OTHER ONGOING, UH, WATCHING AND CAREFUL, CAREFUL CONTROL OR A CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE LIVE IN THESE HOUSES.
THE, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE HOUSES THE LONGEST AFTER A YEAR, AND AFTER A LOT OF HARD WORK, THEN BECOME MENTORS AND THEY THEY'RE ASSIGNED INDIVIDUALS AND THEY MENTOR THOSE PEOPLE.
UH, TONY IS WITH US TONIGHT, TONY, AS A, AS A MENTOR, HE'S BEEN AT ONE OF THE HOUSES AND THAT IS, UH, THAT'S.
HIS PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO MAKE SURE WHEN A PERSON COMES IN THAT FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, HE IS STRICTLY UNDER UNDER ORDERS TO ATTEND MEETINGS AND ATTEND NECESSARILY RECOVERY FUNCTIONS.
UH MONA'S TO NOTICE MS. MONA, AS, AS THOSE GUYS AT THE HALFWAY HOUSES, COMMONLY REFERRED TO HER, UM, IS, IS THE DIRECTOR FOR OUR DAY SERVICES AND TH AND THE OVERSEER FOR THE HALFWAY HOUSES AS WELL.
UH, WE, WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE, WE HAVE VALUE ADDED SERVICE.
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PROCESS FOR THE CITY OF NEWBURGH, WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE GROWN A LOT IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE ARE HIGHLY FAVORED BY UNITED WAY BECAUSE WE HAVE NO PAID EMPLOYEES.WE HAVE ALL VOLUNTEERS THAT STAFF AND RUN IT.
UH, MS. MINOR PUTS IN 60 OR 70 HOURS A WEEK, AND SHE GETS A THANK YOU MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR.
OTHER THAN THAT, SHE REALLY DOESN'T GET ANYTHING.
UH, THE MENTORS DO A LOT OF THE VOLUNTEER WORK AND THE 24 HOUR PHONE HOTLINE SERVICE THAT WE OFFER.
AND WE DID WANT TO WANT TO EXPRESS OUR, THANKS, OUR ONGOING THANKS FOR THE USE OF THAT BUILDING THEN, AND LET YOU KNOW THAT, THAT WE ARE IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS.
AND THEREFORE THE CITY OF NEWTON IS PLAYING A LARGE PART IN THAT.
UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR US.
UM, I WANT TO ENLIGHTEN YOU ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING AT PHOENIX HOUSE.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, TONY WAS MENTOR OF THE YEAR, SO HE'S KIND OF OUTSTANDING HE'S TOP QUALITY STUFF.
UM, WE HAVE ABOUT 15 MENTORS WHO DO OVERSEE, UH, THEY DO ATTEND MEETINGS.
THEY GUIDE THOSE WHO MIGHT GET LOST ON THE WAY TO A MEETING.
THEY GUIDE THEM THERE AND MAKE SURE THEY GET BACK HOME AGAIN SAFELY.
UM, WE HAVE EXTENDED OUR DAY PROGRAM WHEN I CAME TO BE WITH PHOENIX HOUSE.
AT THAT TIME, IT WAS JUST MEETINGS AT NIGHT.
NOW WE HAVE A PROGRAM, I GET TO WORK ABOUT SIX O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, AND I LEAVE ANYWHERE, GET HOME 11, 12 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
UM, WE TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES TO HELP THE ADDICTED TO IF THEY CALL IN, WE GO GET THEM.
WE TAKE THEM TO THE HOSPITAL, WE STAY WITH THEM.
WE TAKE THEM TO DETOX OR TREATMENT WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED.
WE GO BACK AND GET THEM AGAIN.
UM, CURRENTLY WE HAVE A DAY PROGRAM WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN COME IN FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO NEED NETWORKING, WHO DON'T KNOW WHERE TO FIND A LOT OF SERVICES, DON'T KNOW WHO TO TURN TO.
UM, THEY'RE NOT SURE ABOUT GOING TO SOCIAL SERVICES BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE SOME THINGS GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES THAT MIGHT CAUSE THEM PROBLEMS. SO THEY COME TO US AND WE TRY TO GUIDE THEM AND PUT THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UM, WE ALSO WORK WITH THE COURTS NOW, AND WE ADVOCATE ON THE HALF OF, UM, ROLLIES AND, UM, JAIL MATES.
WE OFF THE COURT, AN ALTERNATIVE TO CROWD IN THE JAILS AND PUTTING PEOPLE IN PRISON, UM, IN OUR PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE, UM, DURING THE DAY THEY, UH, WORK AND THEN THEY HAVE MEETINGS, UM, THEY'RE IN TOUCH WITH US ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE HELP THEM OPEN CHECKING ACCOUNTS, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, MANAGE THEIR MONEY, UM, PURCHASE VEHICLES.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE EVER HAD, UM, A RELATIVE OR A CHILD OR A FRIEND WHO HAS BEEN ON DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, AND YOU WERE AFRAID OF THEM.
AND WHAT WE TRIED TO DO IS REBUILD THAT BRIDGE SO THAT THEY CAN GO BACK AND BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND SEE THEIR CHILDREN.
AND SOMETIMES MEN, THEIR MARRIAGES BACK TOGETHER, SOMETIMES BEING ABLE TO GO HOME AND SEE THEIR MOTHERS ON HOLIDAYS.
UM, PHOENIX HOUSE ALSO SPONSORS, UM, A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS DAY, MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF, UM, AND A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS GET TOGETHER AT CHRISTMAS.
I KNOW HOW EXCITED YOU MUST BE WHEN YOUR FAMILY COMES AT CHRISTMAS.
AND WHEN WE ALL GET TOGETHER AND SIT AROUND AND TALK ABOUT TIME, NOT USING AND NOT DRINKING THAT THEY'VE GOT SOME SOBRIETY BEHIND THEM THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO REACH OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND BRING IN OTHERS WHO ARE OUT THERE FOR EVERYONE THAT WE GET IS ONE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO LOCK UP.
IS THAT CORRECT? THEY'LL BACK ME UP ON THAT.
UM, CURRENTLY, UM, I HAD TWO VOLUNTEERS THAT WORKED DURING THE DAY ONE DRIES, UH, BOTH ARE MENTORS.
UM, THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM IS A YEAR OF WORK AND SERVICE WORK TO INDIVIDUALS.
AND THAT MEANS THAT IF SOMEONE CALLS ON OUR HOTLINE AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, OUR PEOPLE GET OUT OF BED AND GO GET THEM.
AND WE STAY WITH THEM AND WE TAKE THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
RECENTLY, WE HAVE STARTED A PROGRAM WHERE I AM GOING OUT INTO THE PROJECTS AND MEETING WITH INDIVIDUALS
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WHO LIVE IN THE PROJECTS WHO WANT TO QUIT.THEY'RE NOT SURE, BUT FOR THREE HOURS ARE WILLING TO SIT AND NOT DRINK OR SMOKE DECK.
SO I SPEND MY TIME WITH THEM IN HOPES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN RECOVERY AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR LIVES BACK TOGETHER.
UM, I CAN'T THANK PHOENIX HOUSE ENOUGH FOR GIVING ME A HOUSE.
THEY GAVE ME A PLACE TO GO TO EVERY DAY.
AND IT PLEASES ME WHEN I LOOK AT MY PEOPLE AND I SEE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FOUR YEARS CLEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT OUT BREAKING IN HOUSES AND STEALING AND BREAKING THE LAW AND TYING A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THIS TAKES A RELIEF OFF OF YOU.
I KNOW, INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ITS PEOPLE.
I AM VERY INVOLVED WITH THESE PEOPLE.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAN NEVER CLOSE MY DOOR IF I'M SUPPOSED TO GO HOME BEFORE.
AND SOMEBODY WALKS TO MY DOOR, THAT DOOR STAYS OPEN UNTIL THEY'VE BEEN SERVED OR THEIR NEEDS HAVE BEEN MET.
AND FOR YOU, I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.
YEAH, I'LL BE REAL BRAVE OUT HERE GOING TO SAY THAT MS. MONA SAID THAT, UH, THE PHOENIX HOUSE HADN'T HAD GIVEN HER A HOUSE AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT GAVE ALL OF US A, A HOME, SOMETHING WE HAVE NEVER HAD OR HAVING IT IN SO MANY YEARS.
UM, WE PROBABLY FORGOTTEN WHAT IT WAS LIKE AND, YOU KNOW, WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL, UM, FOR PROVIDING THIS FOR, OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE.
ALSO I'M A MILE AWAY AND THAT IS AN OFFSET THAT MADE IT YEARS BEFORE I BECAME THE MAYOR.
AND AFTER THAT, THE ANSWER HAS NOT BEEN THE GIRLFRIEND, BUT IT'S IN THE PEOPLE.
AND SURPRISINGLY, MOST OF THE TIMES IT'S PEOPLE THAT WORK ON THAT VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE DOING IT FOR REASONS AND MONEY CAME BACK.
AND I LIKE TO THANK ALL THREE OF THEM IN THE MATTER OF, ESPECIALLY TOO, BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IN A SENSE THANKLESS WORK, BUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING Y'ALL ARE SAVING LIVES JUST AS SURELY AS ANY DOCTOR I'VE EVER SAVED THEM ON THE OPERATING TABLE.
AND, UH, AS THE CITY SPOKES BY, I GUESS YOU MIGHT SAY, I'D LIKE TO REALLY THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO, AND IF WE CAN BE OF ANY HELP TO YOU, PLEASE LET US LET I THINK GEORGE BUSH WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE CAME SAYING THERE'S THOUSAND POINTS
DID YOU EVER LIKE
ANYBODY IN THE HAT? ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CEMETERY.
WE APPROVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
MAY I HAVE ONE THING?
I THOUGHT THE MODIFIED, I WOULD RECOMMEND THEN WE'LL CALL THE ROAD WITHOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA.
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BE DONE YESTERDAY OR THAT IT'D BE DONE TO THEM MADE BY IN FRONTI JUST WANTED TO NOTE THIS LETTER THAT WAS GIVEN TO US FROM MR. WARD IN REGARDS TO THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO THE, UH, VERBAL LAST WEEK FROM JIM.
THAT'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION.
HE, HE WOULD GO AHEAD AND WRITE TO THE CHIEF AND I THOUGHT IT WAS CHIEF TODAY.
AND HE SAID HE HAD HEARD FROM THE RAILROAD AND THAT, UH, HE HAD GONE TO SOUTH CAROLINA TO THEIR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT OR WHOEVER IT IS FOR THIS AREA AND THAT THEY WOULD BE REVIEWING IT AND GETTING BACK TO ME SOUNDS GREAT.
WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO FIND OUT BEFORE HE GETS THERE? DANNY HAD AN EYE.
I HAD A MEETING AND I GOT BACK AT FIVE TODAY, AND I LOOKED AT MY INBOX AND I HAD FACTS FROM A DINA CONCERNING A GRANT REQUEST THAT WE HAD FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
THERE'S AN AGREEMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE SIGNED AND BACK IN THEIR OFFICE BY MONDAY THE 15TH.
SO WE NEED TO HAVE SOME ACTION.
I WENT DOWNSTAIRS TO TRY TO DO A RESOLUTION.
I CAN'T PRINT FROM MY COMPUTER OVER TO PATCHES AND PATSY'S CAN'T PRINT.
SO I I'VE GOT A RESOLUTION STUCK OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.
SO IF, UH, IF THE BOARD WOULD, UH, JUST APPROVE THAT THE MAYOR HAD THE AUTHORITY TO SIGN THE RESOLUTION, AS LONG AS IT MEETS MR. WARD, MR. HARTMAN'S, UH, REVIEW.
AND WE CAN GET THAT THING IN THE MAIL AND BACK TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $23,000.
NOW I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT IF HE CAN FIND IT, HE CAN TELL YOU WHY, IF YOU WANT TO GO SIGN IT ON THE SCREEN, RIGHT.
WAS 23,000 AND POSSIBLY EVEN MORE.
IF, IF, IF THE, UH, THAT REPRESENTS