Falconer Mayor Jim Jaroszynski doesn’t want Chautauqua County’s Department of Social Services placing individuals with mental issues in Falconer. P-J photo by Gregory Bacon

FALCONER — Danielle Mara purchased the old Servis Plumbing building in Falconer. She is remodeling it and wants to bring other small businesses to the village. But she believes the clientele staying at a motel in the village is keeping future business owners away.

“People are walking with swords or machetes and they cut themselves. I have to call the cops, but I’m working on building Falconer? Being a single woman in the village at 2 a.m. is kind of terrifying to myself,” she said during Wednesday’s Chautauqua County Legislature meeting.

But it’s not just the type of people staying there; it’s that they are allegedly placed there by the county.

According to Falconer Mayor Jim Jaroszynski, the Department of Social Services is using the motel as emergency housing for people with mental issues and struggling with drug addiction.

Jaroszynski said the stress is taking its toll on the community. “Since Jan. 1, 2023, there have been 146 Ellicott Police calls to this location. The Rescue and Fire Department has been called 35 times. Think about that — one location,” he said at the meeting.

Jaroszynski said he’s not opposed to giving people in need emergency housing; he just believes Falconer shouldn’t be the only place they are staying.

“We do not have access to services or different resources to help the individuals and families being placed in the village,” he said. “It has become overwhelming to our local police and fire departments, as well as disrupting many of the lives of our residents and the quality of life they expect in our village.”

Along with Mara and Jaroszynski, Nikki Pierce with PersNikkity Pies also raised concerns about the motel in Falconer.

“Stop placing people with severe mental health and drug issues in one location in the village,” she said. “It’s taxing on everyone and to be quite honest. It’s unnerving, especially to young people in the community. who are just trying to walk through the village, walk their dogs. My own children are trying to walk our dogs and they’re afraid of people who quite clearly have major drug habits and are out of control in the village.”

Pierce said she believes the residents of the motel should stay at a location closer to DSS or where there are more jobs available.

None of the three people who spoke identified the name of the motel.

County Legislature Chairman Pierre Chagnon thanked the residents for their comments but did not comment further.

On Thursday, The Post-Journal/OBSERVER asked County Executive PJ Wendel about the concerns brought up. He said he was not aware of the concerns before Wednesday night’s meeting, but said it is something they will look into. “I’m going to reach out to (Department of Health and Human Services). .. I don’t know yet what we can do,” he said.