By Renee Worthing 

Register Reporter 

  As an emergency moratorium on methadone clinics, enacted during a Jan. 29 Sanford Town Council meeting is set to expire, town officials have prepared an ordinance addressing appropriate locations for such clinics in town.

  Last November, Colonial Management Group, headquartered in Orlando, Fla. inquired about opening a methadone treatment center at a Lower Mid-Town Mall location most recently occupied by Club Adrenaline. Colonial Management Group operates Metro Treatment Centers in Penobscot County and Metro Treatment Center in Bangor.

  The inquiry prompted town councilors to request Sanford’s Town Attorney Bryan Dench to draft an emergency moratorium, prohibiting methadone clinics in Sanford while the town prepared changes to zoning rules.

 Eight of 13 zoning districts in Sanford permit the establishment of “health service facilities,” although it is unclear if a methadone clinic falls within the definition of a health service facility.

  Sanford Planning and Community Development Director James Gulnac, Sanford Police Chief Thomas Connolly and Goodall Hospital President Darlene Stromstadt have been drafting the new zoning ordinance to clear up the ambiguity.

  “We, as a committee, are working on the ordinance and will be presenting suggestions through the town manager for review by the town council,” Gulnac said. 

  Sanford Town Manager Mark Green said the zoning ordinance is not aimed at Colonial Management.

  “I think the use needs to be regulated,” Green said.

  He said public hearings would also be slated this month.

  Connolly said state law requires a “needs assessment” before a license for a methadone clinic can be issued. He said he hopes if an assessment indicates Sanford does not need a clinic, the state would not issue a license anyway.

  “I still argue that Sanford does not have a big enough opiate abuse problem to warrant a methadone clinic,” Connolly said.

  He said he is concerned that a methadone clinic will bring opiate users from other communities into Sanford.

  Connolly said Metro Treatment Center Director of Development Joe Sullivan “has been calling and asking what the town is going to do and when moratorium expires.”

  “I know Sanford is working on rezoning and we’re still interested in opening a clinic in Sanford,” Sullivan said.

  He said he knows the location at Mid-Town Mall will not be the future home of a methadone clinic, but said other locations in town are viable options.

  To contact Renee Worthing, email news@intheregister.com or 282-4337 ext. 240