Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Settlement Funds topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Putnam County accepts first JUUL/Jewel settlement payment, allocates $191,650 for disposal and prevention work
Summary
The legislature approved a budgetary amendment to recognize $191,650 in JUUL/Jewel settlement funds received so far; staff said the county was awarded $511,000 total and expects additional payments but timing is uncertain.
Putnam County legislators on Monday approved a budgetary amendment to record and spend the initial JUUL/Jewel settlement funds the county has received from the New York State Attorney General’s office. County staff said the county was awarded $511,000 through the settlement; three payments have arrived so far and total $191,650. Five additional payments are expected under the settlement schedule, but county staff said the timing of future disbursements is not yet known.
County finance and health department presenters told the Health, Social, Educational, Environmental Committee that the amendment applies only to funds already received; future incoming payments will be brought to the legislature as they arrive. The requested uses listed by staff include leasing a vehicle, promotional and educational materials, supplies, contracts (including work on vape disposal), and insurance/chargebacks tied to program operations.
Legislators asked whether settlement dollars could be routed directly to community-based nonprofits that do prevention and education work. County staff said some funds will be spent via county contracts while other elements — for example, district-level school interventions — may be coordinated through Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES or other partners; allocation decisions and contract choices will be made after program scoping and as budget lines are established.
A legislator moved to approve the budgetary amendment and a second was recorded. A voice vote was taken and the amendment was approved.
