Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jul 2002
Source: Oshawa This Week (CN ON)
Contact:  http://www.durhamregion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1767
Author: Christy Chase

MUNICIPAL BOARD HEARS DEBATE ON METHADONE CLINIC

Hearing Wraps Up Friday, Decision To Come Later

OSHAWA - An Ontario Municipal Board hearing opened Monday into the case of 
a downtown methadone clinic, which has been prevented from setting up in a 
new location by a municipal temporary control bylaw.

On the same day, just hours later, City council finally approved a 
consultant to determine whether clinics for the treatment of 
opiate-dependant or narcotic-dependant people are appropriate uses in the 
central business district. The study came about after council in February 
passed the interim control bylaw, which has frozen the building permit for 
the clinic's new location on Simcoe Street South.

Lawyer Jane Pepino, representing Loralgia Management Ltd., has presented 
evidence from three witnesses to OMB members J.A. Smout and J. R. Bozma. 
Loralgia appealed the control bylaw to the OMB which has expedited the 
hearing. The City has hired lawyer Stanley Makush to defend council's 
action. He's expected to call witnesses, including a criminologist, 
beginning Wednesday.

On Monday night, council approved hiring the Planning Partnership to 
conduct the required study, the second choice of staff for the job. An 
outside consultant was required when planning staff members found they 
didn't have the time to complete the study.

The consultant choice came following a debate which centred on the actions 
of Councillor Louise Parkes, who contacted another consulting firm that bid 
on the study but which was ranked fourth by staff. She said she contacted 
them because of what she called their excellent reputation and asked if 
they'd lower their estimate to fit the $50,000 cap set by council. Several 
councillors said her interference in the process wasn't proper.

The study will cost $50,000 while the cost of the lawyer to handle the OMB 
hearing is "a couple of hundred thousand dollars," according to Mayor Nancy 
Diamond. The First Step Clinic, located for five years on King Street West, 
just blocks from the new proposed location, treats people who are addicted 
to opiates. Between 50 to 110 patients visit the clinic a day. Under the 
care of doctors and supervision of pharmacists, they are prescribed 
methadone, another opiate, which doesn't produce a high and reduces 
cravings for other opiates and helps people return to their normal lives, 
said Dr. Michael Semoff, the founder and owner of the clinic. Most patients 
are addicted to prescription drugs, such as pain killers, while about five 
per cent are hooked on street drugs, such as heroin, he said.

The clinic needs a larger space to operate and picked the old National 
Trust building on Simcoe after being assured by the City the zoning was 
appropriate for a clinic, said Fred Larusso, Loralgia owner and owner of 
the Simcoe Street building. Before the clinic could open and just days 
before a building permit was to be issued, council slapped the control 
bylaw on the building after hearing from local residents and businesses 
about their concerns with having the clinic in the downtown.

On Thursday, the OMB will hear from several clinic patients in a private 
session and then from downtown residents and business people. The hearing 
is to wrap up Friday.

A decision will be issued by the board members at a later date.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens