TASK FORCE ON HEROIN SELECTS ITS LEADERS

WILLIMANTIC -- A selectman's task force on heroin met for the first time
Monday, choosing as its co-chairs a prominent businessman and an
addiction-recovery coordinator.

"I came here with butterflies in my stomach tonight," said co-chairman Bill
Correll, who owns several businesses and real estate in town. "We decided
we are going to take on a problem tonight so many have taken on and we've
never gotten quite there. This time we're going to get there."

Diane Potvin, co-chairwoman of the task force, is area coordinator for
Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery and a recovering alcoholic.

"This problem has been here for years and we've had our heads in the sand,"
Potvin said. "How can we make it better? We have to build on our strengths
and [figure out] what can we do to eliminate the use of heroin."

The task force was created following a five-part series in The Courant that
outlined the history and toll of heroin in the Willimantic section of
Windham during the past 30 years.

The task force will draw heavily on recommendations made by 50 people from
five study circles, which have been meeting during recent weeks.

Their recommendations include more community policing, reducing the
prevalence of drug dealers, making it easier for addicts to get help and
increasing drug awareness for teachers, parents and youth.

The study circles also recommended enhancing efforts to secure resources, a
recommendation that comes just after Gov. John G. Rowland cut funding for
the state Department of Social Services. The cuts will result in layoffs at
the agency's Willimantic office, among others.

Monday, members of the task force created three subcommittees that will
address community building and economic development, law enforcement, and
prevention and education. The subcommittees will return with some
recommendations to First Selectman Mike Paulhus in 90 days.

"There is no easy fix, no magic bullet," Paulhus said. "We can and will do
better for this community."

Paulhus and others on the task force said they would focus not only on
working to eradicate the drugs and prostitution, but also on changing the
image of the community.

"Our goal would be to change the image of drug abuse with the image of a
vibrant city," Paulhus said"I'm optimistic what comes of this could be a
model for other cities this size in the state and the nation."

Participants in the study circles and the task force said they hope their
initial work will inspire continued dialogue and action in the community.

The next meeting is Dec. 23 at 7 p.m., an organizational meeting for the
subcommittees. Beginning Jan. 14, the group will meet every other Tuesday
at 5:30 p.m.

"I think we're on the right track," Paulhus said. "It's a launching pad."