St. Edmund's Rehab Plan Under Fire

Thursday would have been the day the community could air its concerns, register its complaints and ask its questions on a proposal by St. Edmund’s Retreat on Ender’s Island in Mystic to expand an unlicensed "test" in-patient substance abuse recovery program into a state-approved 14-bed residential rehab center.

But St. Edmund’s withdrew its application less than a week before public testimony was scheduled to be taken, in an effort, a statement read, to have a further dialogue with concerned neighbors living in affluent and exclusive Masons Island, its immediate neighbor.

According to Casey Cyr Gash, a Masons Island resident and member of a citizens group mobilized to study and protest the proposal, the Rev. Thomas F.X. Hoar, President of St. Edmund’s Retreat, “refused to meet and discuss” residents’ concerns. The proposed substance abuse treatment facility would be located yards from a residential neighborhood and a mile and a half away from the Mystic YMCA that in addition to providing programming for families, runs a child care facility.

“They sent out this press release saying they wanted to [talk] but failed to mention that they have refused to do so,” said Gash. “[Hoar] said he would only meet with ‘reasonable people that are undecided.’ ”

More than 120 residents have signed a petition as well as conducted fact-finding missions to create a 100-question list to go over with St. Edmund’s.

Spokesperson Karen Wilson said St. Edmund’s “absolutely” wants to hear from the community.

“We have the taken the time to engage our immediate neighbors that want to talk with us and other stakeholders. We’re taking the time to listen to everyone who has a message—but in small groups so everyone can be heard; so we can hear the reasonable concerns,” Wilson said. “In a very large, very big debate, not everyone’s concerns can be heard.”

In addition to the Mason’s Island Property Owners Association, a number of other community groups have emerged, including Concerned Citizens for Mystic Safe Neighborhoods, which collected the petition and the still-forming Mason's Island Preservation Committee.

Gash said that a “fact-finding memorandum circulated” by the property owners association discussed a zoning review by Stonington Town Attorney Thomas J. Londregan as well as St. Edmund's being “subject to an investigation by the Attorney General regarding whether such use is a violation of the restrictions set forth in the deed.”

First Selectman Edward Haberek Jr., confirmed a legal opinion by Londregan on whether St. Edmund’s is properly zoned for a residential rehab is expected “shortly.”

And, “due to the complex and important issues facing us,” Gash said, the group has hired a Hartford-based attorney with “expertise in planning and zoning/land use, certificate of need matters and restrictive covenants."

The preservation committee is being formed, in part, to gather information on “increased business activity, traffic on the roads and commercial uses which seem beyond religious activity at St. Edmund’s,” Gash said.  

“But it was the crime spree that woke everybody up,” Gash said.

In late May, a 21-year-old upstate New York man staying at the retreat to explore alcohol recovery options discovered wine said to have been forgotten. It is alleged that after consuming the wine, the man, Jordan Seacor of Ossining, held a man also staying on the island at knifepoint attempting to strong-arm rob him of his wallet and car keys.

Unsuccessful, Seacor allegedly made his way across the causeway to Masons Island, burglarized a home and stole a car. He was arrested and is facing nine criminal charges including three felonies; released on $150,000 bond, he is due back in court July 12.

The incident drew attention to the Catholic retreat’s plan to expand its addiction support program to include an intermediate- and long-term residential recovery facility for young men from ages 18 to 26.

The cost for the three-month program, according to the state application, is $21,000. Wilson said currently the plan for in-patient rehab is on hold, but not discarded.

“No decision will be made going forward until we have heard from the community,” she said. “We want to be both professional and compassionate and what’s important is clarity.”

St. Edmund’s Retreat has been providing spiritual and 12-step support programs including Alcoholics Anonymous for decades.