CRC should give Warren more time

It was reported this week that CRC Health Group, the company trying to open a methadone clinic in the former school in Warren, has filed a federal lawsuit against the town of Warren seeking to overturn the town’s moratorium on such facilities.

Even if, for the sake of argument, CRC had any legitimate claim, this action is premature.

CRC Health Group argues that the town is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects those seeking treatment for drug addiction.

The town enacted a six-month moratorium on methadone clinics in December and extended it June 1. During that time, a town committee has been working with the guidance of legal counsel to create an ordinance regulating methadone clinics in the town.

This work has not been done in secret. Selectmen and the town attorney met in a conference call with CRC Health Group’s attorney and its representative in March where they went over the proposed ordinance in hopes of coming to an agreement. Since that meeting, the committee has continued its work and it is in the process of having an expert in ADA law look over its proposed ordinance.

Now, with that work still under way, CRC has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, potentially derailing the process. This is just impatience and inflexibility. This is an example of a large company with deep pockets steamrolling a small town.

CRC should drop this lawsuit and continue negotiations with the town and its committee.

Perhaps the most outrageous aspect of this lawsuit was the fact that CRC Health Group argues the town showed prejudice when residents were seen speaking out at public meetings, waving signs and wearing buttons. It is actually making the legal argument that allowing people to raise their voices in opposition to a methadone clinic at public meetings violates ADA.

Is even the First Amendment now to be demoted under the authority of the ADA, as any sense of community support already has been?

It seems any true improvement of methadone policy will have to be made by our federal lawmakers. If you are not happy with the way the ADA law is being applied, it’s time to contact your U.S. senator and representative.