RESIDENTS CONCERNED OVER METHADONE CLINIC

Despite the protests of several Spring Garden Township residents,
township President Daniel McGarry Jr. said Wednesday night that
commissioners have no power to stop a methadone clinic from making a
home on South Queen Street.

Methadone is used as a replacement drug for heroin addicts who are
trying to kick the life-threatening habit. Represen tatives from
Advanced Treatment Systems said in January they wanted to open a
methadone clinic in York County this year.

Spring Garden will receive no financial benefits from the
company.

Doug Schmitt presented the board with a petition signed by more than
150 Spring Garden Township residents. Schmitt told the board and an
audience of about 70 that the business would increase crime and
illicit drug dealing with "numerous addicts stopping in and out." He
asked the board to take action and keep the facility out of the township.

Tom Kelley, York County's first assistant district attorney, also
spoke out against the proposed clinic. "There are very few of these
clinics," he said. "You're going to have addicts shift to you for
treatment."

Kelley said the board could represent the concerned residents, and
lead the fight by contacting the governor's office. "You folks can put
your two cents in," he said. "That's what you've been elected to do."

But McGarry said zoning officer Linda Keller acted properly by issuing
the clinic a certificate of occupancy permit. "A medical clinic is a
permitted use," he said. "Our hands are kind of tied."

McGarry said he will try to arrange for representatives of the clinic
to come to the township to answer questions and address concerns
raised by area residents. "It's very frustrating for us to sit up here
and understand your concerns and have no opinions," he said.

State Rep. Todd Platts, R-York, encouraged board members to contact
state Sen. Mike Waugh, R-Shrewsbury, and also to notify the Department
of Health to say they're allowing the clinic only because they had to
and not because they wanted to.

After listening to more than two hours of objections to the clinic,
the board voted unanimously to send a letter to higher governmental
offices saying the township will allow due process, but it has
serious reservations about the treatment center.

Solicitor David Bupp also said citizens may take legal action should
the clinic violate the township's ordinances.