LEWISTON — Perceptions of a proposed methadone clinic matter almost as much as reality, according to neighbors.

Neighbors, all opposed to putting the Merrimack River Medical Services clinic on Mollison Way, said they understand that the clinic is necessary in Lewiston.

“But they need to find a better place,” said Dr. Linda Glass, owner of Pediatric Associates, 33 Mollison Way. 

Councilors heard testimony from backers of the proposed drug-addiction treatment clinic and from neighbors opposed to putting it on Mollison Way. The City Council didn’t take a vote Tuesday night, however; they’re saving that for the second public hearing, scheduled for April 5.

If councilors approve, the city can grant Massachusetts-based Community Substance Abuse Centers a license to locate the first Lewiston-based methadone substance abuse clinic at 18 Mollison Way.

Lewiston requires substance abuse treatment centers to get a business license from the city. That license must be approved by the City Council and is then reviewed annually by the City Council. The ordinance allows substance abuse treatment centers to be built as long as they are a minimum of 1,000 feet from churches, schools, parks or day care centers or facilities. It also limits them to certain zoning districts.

But the city does not prohibit the clinics from being located near pediatric clinics or recreation centers. Glass’ practice caters to young children and is located 450 feet across Mollison Way from the proposed drug treatment clinic.

“The ordinance actually says it is meant to protect areas frequented by children or young adults,” she said. “That sort of is the spirit of the ordinance. And although there is a list of places where they are not supposed to be in the ordinance, there are places here that are extremely child rich.”

That includes Sparetime Recreation, a bowling center that would share a building with the clinic. Clinic patients and staff would enter from the west side, while Sparetime’s entrance is on the east.

But Sparetime Recreation owner Andy Couture said he’s not worried about the clinic’s patients but his own customer’s misunderstandings.

“When I first heard of the project, I went right into a panic because I heard a drug lab was going in,” he said. “Then I got educated about it, and I feel better about it, too. My problem is, perception becomes reality, and 95 percent of the people in this community are not going to understand what is going on. They won’t have the chance to get educated; they’ll just stop going.”

Michael Gotto, a planner representing Community Substance Abuse Centers, said Lewiston’s rules leave only two possible locations, Mollison Way and an area near the Main and Russell streets intersection.

If approved, the clinic would need to be inspected by federal and state officials before it could open. It would operate seven days per week, working with patients and dispensing medicine from about 5:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Counseling and other services would be scheduled Monday through Friday until about 2:30 p.m.

Ward 2 Councilor Renee Bernier recused herself from the public hearing, saying she had a conflict of interest. Her company, Ace Security, provides security for the Portland clinic, she said.

staylor@sunjournal.com