

“The commissioners knew this wasn’t the best place for it in town. Sonia Santavenere, owner of the Main Switch Beauty Salon, next door to the proposed site, lives on the upper floor of her business and has been vocally opposed to the plan since the onset. Their views were very important to our deliberations.” “I want to re-express my gratitude for all the people who came out for the meeting. That’s what happened - call after call after call.”ĭevoto said Friday he is equally appreciative of people’s honesty. “Imagine knowing there’s so much stigma and discrimination out there, to be able to call in and tell your story. Those who testified at the hearing are required to provide their name and address before speaking.

He knows it took a lot for people in treatment to tell their stories publicly. “If not us, who? … We need to make sure the clients who deserve this in that community get that service.” Meanwhile, Zuckerman will soon plan the agency’s next steps.
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“That is the majority,” said Zuckerman, who counts Mayor Ben Florsheim among those who said they want to see the project to fruition, although he couldn’t vote. Its mission is “compassionate, comprehensive care for sustained recovery.”īecause it does not own the Saybrook Road building, it is unable to provide methadone treatment.Ĭhairman Stephen Devoto, Commissioner Richard Pelletier, alternate Kellin Atherton and Commissioner Thom Pattavina voted to approve the motion for the variance, while Vice Chairman Nick Fazzino, and commissioners Catherine Johnson and Jim O’Connell voted against it. 14 at 520 Saybrook Road, predominantly serves individuals with mental health disorders. The nonprofit organization, which had a grand opening for another location Sept. “We were very pleased that, out of the seven commissioners, four voted in support of our proposal. “Every time we look to open up a site, it’s never easy,” said Zuckerman, whose company owns nine such sites across Connecticut. He now plans to take the matter up with his legal team. President and CEO Steven Zuckerman had hoped to receive a variance to construct a methadone treatment facility at 392 Washington St., where Fine Tunes Car Stereo & Complete Auto Repair is now.
