Why and how can the citizens of Bangor come together (with our city councilors) if our rights were violated by this process?

First, the Special Committee was composed of Acadia Hospital employees whose sole intention was to establish a methadone treatment center in Bangor. Secondly, the city council members were to represent the interests of the citizens of Bangor. Although the city councilors were well intentioned, I suggest they were intimidated by Acadia Hospital and were not able to effectively represent the interests of the citizens of Bangor. I therefore do not accept the committee’s recommendations as being fair, balanced or in the best interests of the citizens of Bangor; rather they reflect the best interests of Acadia Hospital and the Office of Substance Abuse of the state of Maine. I support my view with several observations.

First, the city council never challenged the state’s authority to force Bangor to accept the placement of a methadone clinic in our city. The city council never challenged the figures of Acadia Hospital describing the extent of the opiate addiction problem in Bangor and never tried to obtain unbiased numbers. The city council never discussed the results or implications of the referendum in which the citizens of Bangor clearly voiced their opposition to the methadone clinic. The results were simply listed in the committee’s report without discussion, as if it had never happened. This committee never allowed local substance abuse experts who were not employees of Acadia Hospital, of whom there are several, to present their opinions at the many monthly meetings.

In addition, I am concerned about the code of ethics of the city of Bangor and the conflicts of interest of city councilors. The city’s bylaws clearly discuss the “appearance of” and actual conflicts of interest by city councilors.

Some councilors are either employees of Eastern Maine Healthcare (the owner of Acadia Hospital) or have substantial financial contracts with EMH. These councilors were allowed to vote on the issues involving the methadone treatment program of Acadia Hospital, in spite of their obvious conflicts of interest. I suggest that the council is violating its own bylaws designed to protect the citizens of Bangor.

Bangor has enjoyed being known as the Queen City. I fear she is losing her crown and is becoming a company town, catering to the interests of a single large business. What is usually good for one business is rarely good for everyone. When a governing body shows favoritism toward one business, the city and her citizens are being held hostage, whether they know it or not. We are all in trouble.

I fear the city council is not listening to the will of the people and the democratic process has been compromised. I therefore have little faith in the recommendations of the Special Committee and have great difficulty “coming together” on this important issue. I suggest the city council address these concerns if it wants to “move forward” to unite the citizens.

Paul A. Shapero, M.D. lives in Bangor.