Cayuga County Legislators and the Community Services Board that oversees mental health services will meet in a special session Tuesday to discuss ongoing efforts to lift state sanctions.

The Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee will receive an update on the Community Mental Health Center's corrective action plan to address various issues the state has with facilities and programming. The state Office of Mental Health is withholding about $100,000 in aid while the county, Community Services Board and mental health Director David Blair plot solutions to deficiencies that date back as far as 1999.

Part of the blame for lackluster mental health services has been directed at poor communication between the three entities. Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Ann Petrus said she wants to keep everyone on the same page moving forward.

"The meeting is just to discuss the status of the corrective action plan, which has been submitted," said Petrus, R-Brutus. "The biggest thing is to keep the communication open between the Health and Human Services Committee and the Community Service Board."

The county has been deadlocked on moving forward with a $3 million renovation of the Community Mental Health Clinic in the basement of the Historic Post Office on West Genesee Street, in Auburn. In anticipation of the sanctions that began Oct. 24, legislators approved exploration of taking over vacant space at Auburn Memorial Hospital Oct. 23.

For more, read Friday's Citizen