Pubdate: Tue, 10 Sep 2002
Source: Kingsport Times-News (TN)
Copyright: 2002 Kingsport Publishing Corporation
Contact:  http://www.timesnews.net/index.cgi
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1437
Author: Matthew Lane

JUDGE URGES MEDIATION IN DISPUTE OVER METHADONE CLINIC

JOHNSON CITY - An administrative law judge Tuesday encouraged Johnson City 
and a Nashville company to use arbitration to resolve the issue of whether 
or not a methadone clinic is to be built in the city.

The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, which has since been replaced 
by the Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency, approved the 
Johnson City Addiction Research and Treatment Center with an 8-0-1 vote in 
June.

The clinic, to be located at 200 W. Fairview Ave., will offer methadone 
treatment for a projected 250 people in its first two years of operation.

Frontier Health, the James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee 
State University, the chamber of commerce, Central Baptist Church, St. 
John's Episcopal Church, and Watauga Insurance have filed an appeal to the 
THFC's ruling.

The city of Johnson City, the Johnson City Development Authority and the 
Asbury Center have also voiced their opposition to the clinic.

On Tuesday, a pre-hearing conference was held in Nashville before Judge 
James Hornsby to discuss whether arbitration or mediation was a viable 
option in the case, said Reid Brogden, attorney for the THSDA.

Brogden said Hornsby "strongly encouraged" both parties to get together and 
resolve the issue through mediation.

"My office supports mediation and also expressed a desire that the parties 
get together and work it out," Brogden said. "The parties were undetermined 
about mediation."

Jerry Taylor, attorney for the methadone clinic, said a consensus between 
the city and the clinic was that arbitration in this matter would not be 
helpful.

"The attorneys for the parties are still considering the possibility of 
some type of mediation proceeding," Taylor said. "Both parties indicated 
filing preliminary motions to determine whether and to what extent the 
proceedings will go forward, and that'll be up to the judge to decide."

Brogden said a general agreement was reached Tuesday that the Dec. 9, 10 
and 11 hearing dates might need to be moved back.

"Because both sides indicated that they would be filing motions in the 
case," Brogden said. "Following a hearing on the motions, then a new 
hearing date (on the appeal) would be set."

Joseph Wellborn, attorney for the city, JCDA and chamber of commerce in 
this matter, did not return phone calls on Tuesday.

Gayle Malone, attorney for Frontier Health, could not be reached for comment.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth