Guilford’s First Selectman and the CEO of the APT Foundation met in mid-March, 2023; and emails show that the two were discussing the APT Foundation possibly purchasing lots 417 and 439 Boston Post Rd, although at the time the 439 location was under contract. The town allows for businesses and developers to “meet informally with our land use departments”. The site properties were purchased in July, 2023; proposed building plans were submitted by September 18th, with a site plan application submitted by October 6th.
Town planner Anne Hartjen and First Selectman Matt Hoey have maintained that because of the special zoning, no public input is required nor scheduled. Concerned resident Dave Holman has corresponded numerous times with all town officials, pointing to the impact methadone clinics have had in other parts of Connecticut. A proposed APT methadone clinic in the Newhallville section of New Haven was put on pause after nearby residents discovered the proposal.
In an earlier article, Holman described the first-hand experience of working next to a clinic. He points out that the location for the proposed clinic lies just 470 feet from a daycare facility, Cradle to Crayons, and 250 feet away from the closest residence.
First Selectman Matt Hoey’s email on August 21st, to the CEO and two assistants reads, “word has gotten out about [APT Foundation’s Guilford] purchase and plans…”
The CEO of the APT Foundation, Lynn Madden, revealed that 298 patients would be served at the proposed Guilford clinic, potentially 397, accounting for 99 who “receive other medications for opioid use disorder”. Madden anticipates 70-80 patient visits per day, or about 13 per hour, with Sundays closed.
Holman and other residents hope to continue bringing awareness; he’s asked the Town Planner if, prior to the approval of the new Guilford ordinance PRB-3 (Post Road Business-3), if the Pustola Associates site plan application (for use as a methadone clinic) was considered and required to be a “Special Permit Application”. And, whether a special permit designation would have necessitated public notices and public hearings before review or approval.
First Selectman Matt Hoey says his response to Dave’s question — whether public hearings will be held — remains “the same as when answered previously on several occasions. No.”
Holman and other concerned residents plan to host an informational meeting on the proposed clinic on Friday, Feb 9th at 6:30 pm at the Guilford Community Center.
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Sally, thank you for exposing how this methadone clinic has been fast tracked in Guilford in a secret and coordinated way intended to exclude public hearings, impact studies, public announcements or investigations into APT Foundation and the impact of their methadone clinics in other communities. The good people in Guilford have been intentionally excluded from the approval process for this methadone clinic. Please attend the meeting on February 9, 2024, at the Guilford Community Center where Guilford residents can learn about how they were excluded from the approval process and will be able to sign petitions to hopefully stop the methadone clinic at 439 Boston Post Road from opening.
Dave Holman
Just another example of how this one-party town of Guilford operates. In this instance, the First Selectman kept what is arguably the most negatively impactful development in decades from the attention of town residents. In the rush to push this clinic through in the dark of night, no impact studies were done. This is a pattern for APT Foundation and its CEO, Lynn Madden, that have demonstrated callous disregard for the safety, interests, and opinions of residents.
Although this is a “non-profit,” its tax filings indicate that its seven key employees and officers are paid between $150,000 and $300,000 in salaries and benefits, so there are strong financial incentives for putting clinics where residents don’t want them.
These clinics belong in industrial parks and away from residential developments and commercial establishments. You would have thought Lynn Madden and APT would have learned their lesson when they tried to shoved their headquarters down the throats of the residents of the Newhallville section of New Haven. But, no! They are now trying to do it again to the residents of Guilford, thanks to the complicity of our arrogant, and incompetent, First Selectman, Matt Hoey.
It should also be pointed out that a study by Yale confirmed that “take home doses did not lead to increased methadone-related overdoses.” Why can’t these addicts be allowed to pick up 30-day prescriptions for methadone at CVS or Walgreen’s? This would sharply reduce the ned for clinics to dispense methadone that bring a host of negative consequences to area residents.