|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Town Administrator Jeff Bridges was instructed to request that representatives from a proposed methadone clinic attend a future Board of Selectmen’s meeting to outline services and address board members’ concerns.
Selectmen also asked Bridges to speak with legal counsel about what the town’s options are regarding the future clinic’s location on 401 East Main Street. (Most recently, the Spencer Veterinary Hospital was at that address).
These directives followed a discussion by board members, with members acknowledging that the state, not the town, can dictate where clinics of this nature are placed.
Selectman Anthony Pepe said he wanted to go on record as being opposed to the project.
“I fear that this type of process or happening in our town could blow us back,” Pepe said, referring to ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure and buildings. “It’s a safety issue and quality of life issue,” he said, that would result in Spencer taking a step backwards.
Selectman Gary Woodbury said it is his understanding that the state “takes everything out of the town’s hands,” leaving communities without having a say. “I think that is it a big mistake,” he added.
Selectman Ralph Hicks disagreed, noting that his nephew kicked his drug habit and is receiving similar treatment at a facility in Hamden County. He told other members his nephew checks in at a clinic a few times per week, has a brief conversation, picks up medication and leaves.
Hicks said he did not mind people coming to Spencer if they need help. He noted there are very few people who do not have family, friends or friends’ kids, with a drug problem.
“That’s the reality of today’s life,” Hicks said.
“Would you rather have people buying street drugs and what goes with that or supervised medications that keep them from killing themselves?” he asked.
Woodbury acknowledged there are success stories but said he had experience working at a business where people came back from clinics and sold the drugs in the parking lot.
“It was a daily problem,” Woodbury said.
Asking clinic representatives to a future meeting would help the community understand what will happen and how, Hicks said.
“We need someone to come in and reassure us,” Hicks said.
He referred to when Spencer banned marijuana distribution several years ago and one of the first facilities located in Leicester. “It might as well have been Spencer. It was a zoo for a few years and they made a fortune,” he said.
Bridges explained that the proposed clinic goes through a state medical agency to open and “it’s a by right use in the zone.” The project got building permits and does not need zoning permits because it is already allowed in that zone, according to Bridges.
“This was an issue a year ago,” Bridges said.
According to online records, Habit Opco LLC is the company that will operate the clinic.
Update on transfer station given
In other business, the Board of Selectmen heard an update about the transfer station.
The expected delivery date of a new $120,000 trailer in August has passed and Hicks reported that there was a union problem with the Florida company and “everyone quit.” A new date of September 15 was given and now the target date is October 1.
“People need to know why they are tossing bags into a dumpster,” Hicks said.
Hicks noted that he has asked repeatedly for an agenda item about getting a second trailer so that the town is never in this position again if the trailer breaks down.
People continue to be upset with the situation at the transfer station and workers are overwhelmed, he said.
He said that 1,500 to 1,600 families are affected or about half of Spencer’s citizens.
According to the contract, Bridges said, every day the trailer is late, the company is charged $250. “They will owe us a chunk of change,” he added.
In a related matter, Superintendent of Utilities & Maintenance Peter Boria noted that he solicited prices from haulers for when the trailer becomes available again. The two lowest bidders could not meet the $9,000 insurance requirements so he recommended going with McNamara Waste Services, LLC.
Boria said McNamara ran the transfer station “way back when,” and also when the trailer went down. Since then, they are providing roll off containers which they empty on a weekly basis, Boria said.
The company’s proposal charges $800 per trip to haul the trailer (when it arrives).
“They are going to be the best option for us to have a well-established company to haul the trailer with minimum disruption and issues especially with a new trailer,” he said.
The prior contract with McNamara was $625 per trip.
Other business included the board setting a special meeting on Monday, September 23, 6 p.m. to talk about a possible Proposition 2 ½ override next spring.
