TOWN MOVES TO REGULATE METH CLINIC

Can't Stop It, but Can Regulate It Through Licensing

ALLISTON - New Tecumseth may not be able to stop a methadone
treatment clinic from opening in downtown Alliston, but it can regulate it.

Monday night, New Tecumseth council approved a business licencing
bylaw for methadone maintenance treatment establishments. The town is
also amending its zoning bylaw to prevent future methadone treatment
clinics from opening in one the downtown core of Alliston, Beeton or Tottenham.

Council chambers was packed Monday night, with people standing along
the walls and in the hallway outside, to hear the town's take on the
methadone treatment clinic. Speakers were also set up outside council
chambers and in the lobby on the first floor as town staff
anticipated a big turnout for the meeting.

The business licence and rezoning bylaws stem from an Ontario
Addiction Treatment Centres (OATC) methadone treatment clinic opening
up in downtown Alliston at the site of the old liquor store location.
The entrance to the clinic is next to Curves, a women's gym, a few
doors down from the Good Shepherd Food Bank, and is in a municipal parking lot.

Methadone is a drug used to treat opiate addiction, which includes
people dependent on heroin, methadone, Percocet, OxyContin and
morphine, among other drugs. A January Metroland story on the
Bracebridge OATC reported that the majority of its clients are
addicted to OxyContin.

For treatment, liquid methadone is diluted in juice for patients to
consume. Methadone's effects last 24 to 36 hours and can block the
effects of other opiates like heroin and OxyContin.

Because the current zoning for the OATC clinic site allows for health
services uses, the clinic is a permitted use for the zoning. New
Tecumseth CAO Terri Caron explained that even by amending the zoning
bylaw the clinic is be able to remain downtown as a legal non-conforming use.

In the future, should a clinic want to set up in town, methadone
treatment is now a permitted use in areas zoned Urban Light
Industrial Exception 1. The clinics will not be permitted within in
the urban downtown cores.

Although it will be allowed to move forward in downtown Alliston, the
OATC will have to adhere to the licencing bylaw.

"We're trying to strike a balance here," said New Tecumseth Mayor
Mike MacEachern, "it's important to have that level of care available
to the community and I think we're trying to make sure that it is
available to the community and easily accessible to those that are
trying to get assistance."

The business licence requires methadone maintenance treatment
establishments to pay $1,600 for gross floor space up to
90-square-metres and $25 for each additional square metre of floor
space. Strict guidelines and requirements are also set out for the
owners and clients of methadone maintenance treatment establishments.

There has been no consultation between the OATC and the community.

After Groundswell Coffeehouse owner and Alliston Business Improvement
Association (ABIA) chair Janette Vander Zaag learned of the clinic
opening at the location she informed the town. As work at the site
had started without a building permit the town issued a stop-work order.

At the end of January, the OATC threatened legal action against
Vander Zaag if she does not "desist from making false or unfounded
allegations about OATC which interfere with OATC's lawful activities,
OATC will take all necessary steps to pursue civil proceedings..."

ABIA vice chair Mike Jerry spoke at Monday night's meeting. He said
the board is "definitely not opposed to the care and treatment of
methadone patients."

"This should be loud and clear to all. We have this type of service
in our community already with no issues," said Jerry.

Jerry said the ABIA believesn the clinic's location in the downtown
core however, "will mean more businesses closing, lost jobs, lost tax
base, loss of donations."

By licencing methadone treatment clinics, Caron said the town can
ensure the clinic operates according to best practice standards. The
town's licence creates strict guidelines for the owner of a methadone
maintenance treatment establishment and its clients.

All clients are required to sign a behaviour contract before
receiving services. By signing the contract, clients agree to "behave
with respect" at the clinic and in the dowtown core, to not engage in
illegal activity, not to hang around other than to attend
appointments, and not to be disruptive or aggressive with local
residents or retailers.

For the clinic itself, the licence requires waiting room space to be
able to hold all clients and their companions and a clinic
representative must attend meetings four times a year with the town
clerk, council reps, staff and the BIA to discuss issues.

Hours of operation are limited to 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and appointments
are necessary. The owners of the clinic are also on the hook
financially for any additional policing requirements directly
resulting from the operation of the methadone treatment clinic.

In addition to the licence fee, for a methadone treatment clinic
located within 100-metres of a municipal parking lot, such as the one
in Alliston, the owner will be required to pay for security cameras,
to be installed by the municipality.

While the methadone clinic wouldn't be subject to the zoning bylaw
changes it would be impacted by the new licencing requirements.

Ward 1 Coun. Bob Marrs represents the area the clinic is located and
is the council representative on the ABIA. While he has previously
expressed concern for downtown businesses if the clinic opens, Monday
night he said if the best practices are followed there won't be problems.

Methadone maintenance treatment establishments are the second
business the town has licenced. In 2008, New Tecumseth council
regulated stores selling drug paraphernalia after Happy Dayz, which
sold glass pipes, opened on Victoria Street in downtown Alliston.