Pubdate: Sat, 15 Jan 2005
Source: Caledonian-Record, The  (St. Johnsbury, VT)
Copyright: 2005 The Caledonian-Record News
Contact:
http://www.caledonianrecord.com/pages/letters_to_editor/submit_letter_to_editor.
Website: http://www.caledonianrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1355
Author: Gary E. Lindsley, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

PROPOSED CLINIC HUB SITE SPARKS LITTLE CONCERN

ST. JOHNSBURY VERMONT - Some people are concerned and others aren't about
the possibility of having a mobile methadone hub site located on Portland
Street.

Steve Rosen, of the San Francisco-based California Detoxification
Programs Inc., Thursday night said negotiations were in the final
stages to locate a mobile methadone clinic hub site at the former
Dad's 4-By building on Portland Street.

Martha Davis, branch manager for Merchants Bank, expressed some
concern about the possibility of having such a site so close to the
bank.

"I guess I would be a little concerned with a business like that near
a banking institution," Davis said. "I don't have a problem with the
clinic itself."

The bank is a couple buildings away from the proposed hub site. The
proposed hub site will house administrative offices, a motorcoach and
the methadone itself. Counseling also will be provided to clients at
the facility.

Ginny Darrell, of Yankee Traveler Motel, also expressed some concern.
"I wish they weren't doing one at all," said Darrell.

The motel is located on the opposite side of the street and west of
the site. "Hopefully, it doesn't cause any disruption in the
neighborhood," she said.

If people are forced to take part in the program, Darrell said she
doesn't believe it will work. "If it's their choice, it will probably
work," she said.

Mark O'Brien, who along with his wife, Janet, owns North Country Vac
and Sew across the street, said he does not have a problem with the
hub site being located near his business.

"It does not bother me, I guess," he said. "I would rather see a
retail business, but as long as it is being used it's (OK). I have no
objection to it. I don't see how it could affect the
neighborhood."

Janet said it will not be as if there are groups of people hanging
out. "It's not a residential area," she said.

Sarah Kelley, manager of the St. J Food Co-op east of the proposed hub
site and across the street, welcomes the facility. "People don't have
to be criminals to be on drugs," Kelley said. "I think it's a valuable
addition. We know (drug) problems exist in St. Johnsbury."

Providing help to people who want to take back their lives and take
active parts in their community is important, she said.

Ken Gibbons, president of Union Bank, said he did not have feelings
one way or another about the facility. Based in Morrisville, Gibbons
said he assumes the facility will be operated properly.

The St. Johnsbury bank branch is located on the same side of the
street as the former Dad's 4-By but a few buildings west.

Conway Ivy, a spokesman for Cleveland, Ohio-based Sherwin Williams,
was in favor of the program. Sherwin Williams has a store on the
opposite side of the street, west of the proposed hub site.

"Speaking for Sherwin Williams, we do support programs helping people
with drug problems," said Ivy. "Obviously Sherwin Williams wants to be
a good community citizen."

Rosen, along with Alan Aiken, program coordinator for the mobile
methadone program, is negotiating with Bill Brink, who owns the former
Dad's 4-By building.

Brink also owns a site on Bay Street which used to house the St.
Johnsbury Paper Company and now is home to B&W Mechanical Services.
Rosen and Aiken are negotiating with Brink to use the Bay Street
property to dispense daily doses of methadone from a motorcoach.

CDP, doing business as Vermont Behavioral Services, was awarded a bid
by the state Department of Health in 2004 to operate the state's first
mobile methadone clinic program.

Rosen hopes to have the program up and running by April
1.

Officials with Kinney Pike Insurance and Charter Communications,
located in a building next to the proposed hub site, could not be
reached for comment.

And a representative of White Market, next door to the building, was
not available to comment about the proposed hub site.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin