HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-12-12 17-037 ORDINANCECOUNCIL ACTION
Item No. 17-037
Date: December 12, 2016
Item/Subject: ORDINANCE, Repealing Chapter 93, Chemical Dependency Treatment
Facilities, of the Code of the City of Bangor
Responsible Department: Legal
Commentary:
This past August, a Bangor methadone clinic applied to expand the number of patients it treats
from 300 to 500. The application was denied and then litigated; that litigation was recently
resolved.
The clinic has indicated that there are at least some prospective patients in immediate need of
treatment. Additionally, Maine as a whole has a pressing need for additional resources to
combat its ongoing opiate epidemic, including the need for more treatment. These factors
present an immediate threat to the public health and safety, particularly the health of those
particular individuals in need of immediate treatment.
The City has made it clear that addressing the opiate epidemic is not and should not be the role
of Bangor alone, and could better be addressed by treatment elsewhere. Nevertheless, given
the lack of such expansion of treatment elsewhere, the opiate epidemic and needs of individual
citizens for treatment constitute immediate threats for Bangor to address for the preservation of
the public peace, health or safety.
Given these immediate threats, this ordinance repeal is being introduced as an emergency
measure pursuant to Article V, Section 1 of the Bangor City Charter. Similarly, it is also
recommended that the Council waive two readings in this matter. This item was reviewed in
Executive Session on November 28, 2016.
Department Head
Manager's Comments:
City Manager
Associated Information: Ordinance
Budget Approval:
Finance Director
Legal Approval:
Introduced for
x Passage
x First Reading
Referral
17-037
DECEMBER 12, 2016
Assigned to Councilor Nichols
CITY OF BANGOR
4� QE r
ORDINANCE, Repealing Chapter 93, Chemical Dependency Treatment f=acilities, of the Cade of the
City of Bangor
WtHEREA6% a Bangor methadone clinic has expressed its interest in expanding the number of patients
it treats;
WHEREAS, the clinic has indicated there are at least some prospective patients in immediate need of
treatment;
WHEREAS� Maine as a whole has a grave and pressing need for additional resources to combat im I
ongoing opiate epidemic, including the need for more treatment;
WHEREAS, these factors present an immediate threat to the public health and safety;
WIHEREA% addressing this immediate threat is not and should not be the role of Bangor alone, and
could better be addressed by expansion of treatment elsewhere;
WHEREAS,, nevertheless, given the lack of such expansion of treatment elsewhere, the opiate
epidemic and needs of individual citizens for treatment constitute immediate threats fbr Bangor to
address for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY 4F BANGOR AS FOLLOWS, THAT
Chapter 93 of the Code of the City of Bangor is hereby repealed. This repeal applies retroactively to all
actions and proceedings as of December 1, 2016, notwithstanding the provisions of 1 M.R.S. § 302.
The ongoing statewide opiate epidemic, combined with the needs of individual prospective patients
who are requesting treatment, constitutes an emergency, and action is therefore immediately
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety. The repeal of Chapter 93 is
therefore enacted as an emergency measure pursuant to Article V, Section 1 of the Bangor City
Charter.
IN CITY COUNCIL
DECEMBER 12, 2016
COr 17-037
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED TO WAIVE SECOND READING
PASSED TO WAIVE SECOND READING
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED FOR PASSAGE
VOTE: 7-0
COUNCILORS VOTING YES: FAIRCLOTH, GRAHAM, NICHOLS, PERRY, TREMBLE, WESTON, SPRAGUE
COUNCILORS VOTING NO: NONE
PASSED
CITY CLERK