By Angela Marshall
During the Board of Trustees' meeting on Jan. 7, Bossart said she was somewhat surprised to learn from a Herald article that Maple Pointe's top two floors would house Alzheimer and dementia patients.
The trustee said developers Hassett-Belfer never disclosed this use during their public hearings before the board.
This is a pretty major change, Bossart said. She continued, saying she wants developers to get the message that they cannot say one thing and do another.
Bossart asked Village Attorney Martha Krisel to see whether or not having designated Alzheimer/dementia areas, which need state licensing, would violate the special use permit.
We are absolutely 100 percent in compliance with the zoning law and with New York State law, Belfer said during a phone interview. It's really a non issue.
Belfer, senior executive of Hassett Belfer Senior Housing, said in the old days all Alzheimer patients were placed in nursing homes but that many people in the earlier stages now opt to live in assisted living facilities. When the disease progresses to an advanced stage, the people are transferred to nursing homes.
The developer said Maple Pointe has relationships with several nursing homes that they refer patients to when necessary. Belfer also said they would never try to treat someone with an advanced stage of Alzheimers.
According to Belfer, 50 percent of those 85 and older have some sort of memory loss.
Krisel said she was still reviewing the permit. If Maple Pointe is found to be in violation of the special use permit, the developers would have to participate in another hearing.
