Council Meeting of November 24
It was a energetic meeting and there were a lot of people in attendance. The main topic for the evening was the Public Hearing/Input Session on the Methadone Clinic that is being proposed for the Industrial Park.
We heard from a lot of people with a clear majority opposed to the clinic. Chief Moyer told about the problems other communities have experienced including 2 clients of the Concord clinic breaking into over 100 cars trying to raise money for their Methadone.
We also heard from John Sullivan, who is the Director of Development for Metro Treatment Centers of NH. He sounded like the stereotypical used car salesman selling an old rusted out junk Volkswagen Bug and making it sound like a brand new Lincoln Continental. He was smooth but it was easy to see right through him. I thought it was ironic that Mr. Sullivan mentioned that the 2 individuals that broke into all of the cars were from Laconia. This just goes to the point we were trying to tell him.
The first speaker was John Veazy and he spoke about the fact that this type of business is not allowed by deed in the industrial park. Eileen will research the deed and see what turns up.
Now let me make it perfectly clear, NO ONE disputed that treatment and counseling aren't good. Just that this type of treatment concentrates on "long term" treatment, keeping people on daily doses of Methadone for as long as possible.
Below are segments of some of the e-mail letters I have received.
from Name Withheld "...if Laconia's methadone clinic goes in Concord's will be shutting down..."
From Mike Shastany "One could correlate that the patients who are in need of this sort of treatment center will most likely choose to reside in close proximity of this clinic, thus drawing more residents to Laconia who will further tax our infrastructure." and "There needs to be a balance between productive citizens who better our community through taxes and participation in local community and government, and those citizens who place a burden on society through constant reliance on the welfare system."
From Kim Weeks "How, on earth, does this classify as a medical clinic? No medical clinic would see patients at a rate of 1/2 minute per client! No medical clinic directly correlates to an increase in crime (as is statistically proven, per Chief Moyer)!"
From Newb LeRoy "I'm aware of you legal limitations. However, Shanna needs all the suport she can get if she is to make the decision we wish she would. In my understanding, a drug dispensary does not fall into the same category as a clinic."
From Katy Stone "The methadone (a narcotic) will be dispensed to heroin addicts between the hours of 7 am and 11 am daily. It will be staffed by only 3 people serving a minimun of 150 clients per day. It's not hard to do the math, it gives each heroin addict client exactly 30 seconds to receive their daily dose of narcotics to fight their addiction. The faster they can move people through the doors, the more addicts they will be able to see, and the more money they make."I think it is clear to see that the opposition to this clinic is widespread and some good points are made.


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