OPM TRIES TO CLEAR CONFUSION OVER ANTI-DRUG GRANT

WILLIMANTIC - A state Office of Policy and Management official has stepped
forward to clear up what he terms "inaccurate news accounts and public
statements" regarding Gov. John G. Rowland's pledge of $100,000 to fight
drugs in Windham.

While Brian Mattiello, OPM undersecretary, did not refer to specific
accounts or statements in a letter written to the Chronicle, he said he
felt compelled to "set the record straight" regarding assertions that "the
governor has somehow reneged on his pledge."

At issue is a $100,000 grant to combat the drug problem in Windham that was
pledged by Rowland shortly after the publication of the "Heroin Town"
series by the Hartford Courant. The pledge was made during an election
campaign stop in Willimantic by Rowland, in the company of John Walters,
federal drug czar. The grant was specifically pledged, by Rowland, for use
by the statewide narcotics task force operating in the town of Windham.

In his letter to the Chronicle, Mattiello termed Rowland's pledge "a
pronouncement of a special grant to Willimantic." Mattiello also detailed
how the grant money has been and will be spent.

According to Mattiello, $30,000 has so far been spent on "enforcement
activities," and another $36,000 will be spent "in coming months." Of the
remaining money, $20,000 will be granted to the state Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services "to follow up on their canvassing
activities," which were face-to-face interviews with residents of the Hotel
Hooker conducted shortly after Rowland's visit. Those interviews, Mattiello
wrote, have lead to changes in community care plans for individuals and
referrals to residential and other treatment centers.