RHJ Medical Center Agrees to Permanent Injunction, Close Indefinately

CLEARFIELD - An agreement between the City of DuBois and RHJ Medical Center Inc. resulted in a permanent injunction on RHJ Medical's current site at 994 Beaver Drive.

Toni Cherry, solicitor for the City of DuBois, presented the agreement to Clearfield County Judge Fredric J. Ammerman on Thursday. According to Cherry the document had signatures representing the City of DuBois and RHJ Medical, including City of DuBois Mayor John "Herm" Suplizio and RHJ Medical Center CEO Kathy Jones.

RHJ Medical Center nor their council was present at the courthouse.

Cherry said that RHJ wished to avoid the hearing and instead agreed to the issues that Cherry and the city had brought up as to why the clinic should not operate in their current structure. Cherry said that RHJ Medical's counsel wanted to the City of DuBois to waive the issue. Cherry noted that the city did not want to deal with the medical clinic until a permanent injunction was granted.

To avoid litigation, RHJ Medical Center agreed to the order of permanent injunction and agreed with the City of DuBois' claims.

It has been the DuBois' contention that the clinic is in violation of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code section 621, which regulates distances from certain areas and structures that methadone clinics can operate. The City of DuBois has argued that the Beaver Meadow Walkway is a public park, which is one of the areas that is covered under the law. The law prohibits methadone clinics from operating within 500 feet of public parks, churches, schools and other structures.

The City of DuBois has also contended that RHJ Medical Center needed to apply for an certificate of use, which was never done, as well.

As part of the order, the medical clinic will remain closed at the building on 994 Beaver Drive. The sign must remain covered or be removed. Cherry said that should RHJ Medical Center wish to operate there in the future, they must apply for a certificate, at least on public hearing must be held and the City of DuBois must give the clinic permission to operate at at 994 Beaver Drive because of MPC section 621 stipulations.

Whether RHJ Medical Center will relocate in the DuBois area or go before city council remains to be seen.