FINANCIAL BUSINESS REQUEST (FBR)
Motion/Request:
title
Discussion regarding potential uses for the funding received from the National Opioid Settlement Payments.
end
Background:
The town is receiving these payments through its participation in the National Opioid Settlement. The town has begun to receive and is expected to receive payments from multiple sources. The payments received to date have been from the Distributor Settlement. The town will also be receiving payments from the Janssen Settlement.
To date Ledyard has received $53,1134.19 (Perdue Pharma) from the National Opioid Settlement. He stated Ledyard has filed their second submission which was from Teva, Allergan, Walgreens, CVS and Walmart.
Funding received from the National Opioid Settlement was being deposited into Account #20810201-58206-24206 (National Opioid Settlement).
Funds are to be used exclusively for opioid abatement purposes, including, but not limited to, expanding access to opioid use disorder prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery options, etc.
Town Council Meeting 9/27/2023 : Approved to accept the Ledge Light Health District-Ledyard Prevention Coalition proposal dated June 5, 2023 for the use of the National Opioid Settlement Funding received by the Town of Ledyard with the following changes:
• Reduce the number of Narcan boxes from 194 to 154 for a total reduction of $1,900;
• Remove the Police Wellness Dog for a reduction of $2,000.
These adjustments have reduced the total amount of the proposal to $36,100 from the $40,000 originally proposed. (see attached)
Department Comment/Recommendation:
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Finance Director Comment/Recommendation:
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Mayor Comment/Recommendation:
Meeting Action Detail:
Finance Committee Meeting 06/7/2023:
File #: 23 -777 Version: 1
Type: Financial Business Request (FBR)
Title: Discussion regarding potential uses for the funding received from the National Opioid Settlement Payments.
Action: No Action
Minute Note:
Councilor Saums noted the Finance Committee received the following proposals regarding the use of the Opioid Settlement Funding the Town would be receiving:
• Cardiopulmonary Assist System (CPR) Device - Councilor Saums stated Gales Ferry Fire Chief Tony Saccone was present this evening noting that he proposed purchasing a Cardiopulmonary Assist System (CPR) Device to provide mechanical chest compressions to patients in cardiac arrest.
Councilor Saums stated in reviewing the Guidelines regarding how the Opioid Settlement Funding could be used that they were very specific. However, he stated the Guidelines were not clear on whether the funding could be used to purchase a CPR Machine. He stated that they needed to continue to review the Guidelines. He stated although it would make sense to purchase a CPR Machine that they had to stay within the Guidelines. He stated the Finance Committee needed to obtain more information on how the funding could be used.
• Ledge Light Health District - Councilor Saums stated Ledyard Prevention Coalition, Senior Program Health Coordinator Kerensa Mansfield provided a proposal dated May 31, 2023; and in a letter dated June 6, 2023 Youth Services Coordinator Kate Sikorsky-Maynard provided support for the Ledyard Prevention Coalition’s proposal. He provided a brief overview of the $40,000 proposal as follows:
Ledyard Prevention Coalition
Opioid Prevention, Recovery, and Wellness Program for the Town of Ledyard, CT
Total Request: $40,000
Staff Costs
|
Position |
Name |
Salary/Fringe |
Hours |
Cost |
|
Project Coordination |
Kerensa Mansfield Margaret Lancaster |
$52 |
208 hours |
$10,816 |
|
Peer Navigator |
Team Support |
$32 |
416 hours |
$13,312 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
$24,128 |
The LLHD staff, Program Coordinator and Peer Navigator, will be responsible for the successful coordination and implementation of all programmatic activities related to the Opioid Prevention, Recovery and Wellness Program. Narcan/Wellness training sessions will be provided for local businesses, municipal offices, civic groups, and school faculty,
staff, and students. Narcan will be distributed at these trainings. LLHD will collaborate with Alliance for Living to schedule the outreach van for community events and restock Emergency Overdose boxes containing Narcan. LLHD will support individuals receiving support services, including providing transportation when needed.
Travel
|
|
Rate |
Cost |
|
Local Travel |
$.655/miles x 163 miles x 12 months |
$1,281 |
|
|
Total |
$1,281 |
Travel cost will be used for getting people to treatment whether driven by a Navigator or with a voucher, local educational and outreach activities, and meetings.
Supplies
|
Item |
Rate |
Cost |
|
Office Supplies |
$15/month x 12 months |
$180 |
|
Printing |
$.08/copy x 2,400 copies |
$192 |
|
Postage |
$5/month x 12 months |
$60 |
|
|
Total |
$432 |
Supplies including office supplies, printing of flyers and handouts and postage are needed for the general operation of the project.
Other Costs
|
Item |
Rate |
Cost |
|
Narcan |
$47.50/box x 194 boxes |
$9,215 |
|
Emergency Overdose Kit |
$300/box x 2 boxes |
$600 |
|
Awareness Campaign |
Local radio stations, social media, etc. |
$1,844 |
|
Wellness Dog |
Purchase and training |
$2,000 |
|
Marketing Materials |
|
$500 |
|
|
Total |
$14,159 |
Narcan purchase is based on the recommendation for one kit per 100 people. Two emergency overdose boxes containing Narcan will be purchased for locations as determined by community recommendation, LPC, and the Ledyard Police Department. A community awareness campaign will be implemented utilizing local radio stations, social media, and presentations. Funds will be used towards the purchase and training of a wellness dog for the Ledyard Police Department. Marketing materials will be purchased to raise awareness about the Opioid Prevention, Recovery, and Wellness Program support and activities.
Councilor Saums noted that he had a number of questions regarding the Ledyard Prevention Coalition’s proposal because it appeared that they were looking to use some of the funding to pay for expenses such as salaries that were already part of their annual budget. He stated if the Opioid Settlement Funding worked in the same way as other grant funding the town receives, that he did not believe that the Settlement Funding could be used to supplant the existing funding for expenses such as salaries. He suggested the Finance Committee invite Ms. Mansfield to their June 21, 2023 to discuss the proposal.
Action: No Action
_____________________________________________________________________________
Finance Committee Meeting 05/17/2023:
File #: 23 -777 Version: 1
Type: Financial Business Request (FBR)
Title: Discussion regarding potential uses for the funding received from the National Opioid Settlement Payments.
Action: No Action
Minute Note:
Councilor Ryan stated the Finance Committee was waiting for the Ledyard Youth Services, and the Ledyard Prevention Coalition to proposes some ideas for the best use of the Opioid Settlement Payments.
Action: No Action
Finance Committee Meeting 05/03/2023:
File #: 23 -777 Version: 1
Type: Financial Business Request (FBR)
Title: Discussion regarding potential uses for the funding received from the National Opioid Settlement Payments.
Action: No Action
Minute Note:
Councilor Saums stated the Ledyard Youth Services, and the Ledyard Prevention Coalition were continuing to look at options for the best use of the Opioid Settlement Payments and how they could be involved in the initiative.
Action: No Action
_____________________________________________________________________
Finance Committee Meeting 04/19/2023:
File #: 23 -777 Version: 1
Type: Financial Business Request (FBR)
Title: Discussion regarding potential uses for the funding received from the National Opioid Settlement Payments.
Action: No Action
Minute Note:
No Action.
Councilor Saums stated he sent letters dated April 13, 2023 to the Ledyard Prevention Coalition and to the Ledyard Youth Services to solicit their ideas for the use of the funding received from the National Opioid Settlement Payments. He stated the two Organizations would have information for the Finance Committee’s May 3, 2023 meeting.
Councilor Saums went on to note that he and Director of Senior Citizens and Parks & Recreation Scott Johnson, Jr., attended a meeting at the Police Department yesterday at which Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA) announced that they were working to organize a Coffee House Group for local Ledyard veterans, and that they were looking for space to host the meetings. He suggested if the Veterans’ Group perceives that there was a problem among this group that they may be able to apply for some of the funding the town receives from National Opioid Settlement Payments.
Mayor Allyn, III, noted a communication from the Ledyard Prevention Coalition, stating they were looking at what they could do to be involved in this initiative.
Action: No Action
________________________________________________________________________
Finance Committee Meeting 04/5/2023:
File #: 23 -777 Version: 1
Type: Financial Business Request (FBR)
Title: Discussion regarding potential uses for the funding received from the National Opioid Settlement Payments.
Action: Discussion/Continued
Minute Note:
Councilor Saums stated the town has begun to receive payments from the National Opioid Settlement. He stated to date Ledyard has received $53,134.19 (Perdue Pharma) from the Distributor Settlement and that they would be receiving additional payments from multiple sources such as the Janssen Settlement and from other sources such as Teva, Allergan, Walgreens, CVS and Walmart.
Councilor Saums stated the funding received from the National Opioid Settlement was being deposited into Account #20810201-58206-24206 (National Opioid Settlement) and that the funds could accumulate in the Account until the town decided on a plan to spend the funds. He stated like the Bottle Bill that the Opioid Settlement Revenues could only be used for specific opioid abatement purposes, including, but not limited to, expanding access to opioid use disorder prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery options, etc.
Councilor Saums stated the purpose for tonight’s discussion was to consider ideas on how to spend the Opioid Settlement Revenues.
The Committee discussed the following ideas:
• Ledyard Prevention Coalition
• Ledyard Public Health Nursing
• Ledyard Social Services
• Purchase Narcan for their Emergency Service Providers - It was noted that Narcan was already being provided for free to Emergency Services Providers.
• Donate funds to Addiction Organizations outside of Ledyard
• Work with Ledyard Public Schools
• Scholarship Fund for residents who were entering into a rehabilitation program.
The Finance Committee discussed the need to determine the best value in terms of helping people who were struggling with addiction. They noted the many families who have experienced and been touched by the loss of a child, parent, friend, etc. who became addicted to either prescription opioids and/or street drugs that may have been laced with fentanyl or other synthetic types of dangerous and harmful narcotics.
Nursing Administrator Karen Goetchius stated doctors were no longer prescribing pain medications for major surgeries such as a knee replacement at the same rate they were 15-years ago.
The Finance Committee agreed to solicit ideas from Youth Services Coordinator Kate Sikorski-Maynard and Ledyard Prevention Coalition Kerensa Mansfield for the best use of the Opioid Settlement funding.
Action: Discussion/Continued