METHADONE CLINIC WILL OPEN 'SOON'

FRAMINGHAM - A deal struck this week on the location of a downtown
methadone clinic should allow Spectrum Health Systems to open the clinic's
doors "very soon," state health officials said yesterday.

Selectmen Thursday voted to drop their opposition to the clinic,
effectively clearing the way for Spectrum to open the Howard Street location.

"We're happy, we're excited," James Campbell, Spectrum vice president for
development and external affairs, said yesterday. "We can't wait to begin
providing the service in Framingham we think is eminently necessary."

In the coming days, Campbell said, the company will finalize the agreement
with the town and tie up a few loose ends, but the clinic will be open "as
soon as possible."

The clinic's doors could open sooner than some residents may think.

Though Spectrum must still complete the state Department of Public Health's
community siting process, a DPH spokesperson yesterday suggested the
process is drawing to a close.

"Spectrum's last submission looked complete in terms of meeting all the
requirements for the siting process," said Roseanne Pawelec. "When we
receive the official notification (of the settlement,) then I think we
would consider the siting process to be completed by Spectrum."

Once that process is complete, the company would have to provide the state
with items like a local occupancy permit, and then the DPH could issue a
license, Pawelec said.

"If all the conditions are met, then we're talking about (issuing a
license) soon, very soon," she said.

Despite the town's settlement, residents opposed to the clinic yesterday
refused to give up the battle, and hinted at possible legal action.

Residents and business leaders in the area sent a letter to the DPH this
week asking the agency to defer a decision on the license until a public
meeting on the clinic can be held.

"The selectmen went one way, and the entire town went the other," said
Larry Schmeidler, co-chairman of the neighborhood advocacy group FIMBY.
"The community siting is definitely not completed."

Neighborhood activists are not contemplating hiring a lawyer to continue
the clinic fight, he said, and have plans to lobby local legislators on the
issue.

"As far as I'm concerned, the people have a right to go directly to the
DPH," Schmeidler said.

Schmeidler and other clinic opponents are also considering calling a
special Town Meeting to evaluate the agreement signed by selectmen.

According to town bylaw, the board can settle cases with a cost of less
than $25,000, but clinic opponents have attacked the settlement as not
living up to the spirit, if not the letter, of the law.

"The four (selectmen) represented themselves, and that's it," Schmeidler said.

Under the terms of the settlement signed this week:

- -- The town will abandon appeals in state Land Court.

- -- Spectrum will drop a suit that challenged the town under the Americans
with Disabilities Act.

- -- The town will also drop its opposition to the Department of Public
Health's community siting process.

- -- Neither side will admit liability.

- -- Both sides will pay their own legal fees, estimated at about $50,000 for
the town, and as much as $250,000 for Spectrum.