By Lucas Willard
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-995521.mp3
Pittsfield, MA – The clinic, which is being built by Spectrum Health Inc. filed suits against the City of Pittsfield in June, after the City denied the company a building permit in April. Spectrum is claiming that the construction of the Summer Street clinic is exempted from local zoning restrictions in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Dover Amendment. Spectrum Inc. is claiming they are an educational corporation, which are exempted from certain local restrictions under the ADA.
A Federal Judge's ruling in Boston earlier this month ruled in favor of Pittsfield, and effectively stated that Spectrum cannot continue construction or operate its proposed methadone clinic while engaged in a lawsuit. Spectrum was set to being construction Tuesday while under their current lease.
City Solicitor Richard Dohoney has details. Experience Wellness, a clinic that distributes a similar type of drug to methadone called suboxone is operating out of a North Street location.
Krol's petition is designed to clearly define future methadone and suboxone clinics as not being appropriate for downtown Pittsfield. The petition is not designed to halt Experience Wellness or Spectrum, but he hopes it will send a message.
On Tuesday evening, the petition was referred by the City Council to the Pittsfield Community Development Board. After a public hearing and recommendations, the petition will return to the City Council and its Committee on Ordinance and Rules for further review.
Pittsfield mayor James Ruberto has been very vocal about Spectrum's presence, and would like to work with Spectrum to find a more suitable location. Spectrum has supplied data from the Department of Public Health that 622 clients receiving treatment for opioid abuse reside in Pittsfield.