Westfield council votes to join Purdue Pharma settlement; city attorney says affirmative vote required to receive funds

The Westfield Common Council voted to approve participation in the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan and governmental entity settlement agreement after City Attorney Miss Glazier explained the structure requires affirmative action by cities and towns to receive funds. The council approved the action by roll call without recorded dissent. Glazier told the council that in prior opioid settlements Indiana municipalities automatically participated when the state joined the settlement, but outside counsel advised this Purdue Pharma plan is structured differently and requires each city or town to fill out forms and vote to receive its share. "Our outside counsel who represents most of the Indiana cities and towns has strongly recommended that their clients vote yes on the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan, and that we execute all of the forms, like the settlement agreements that go along with it," Glazier said. Why it matters: Participating in the settlement preserves the city's ability to receive any allocated funds from Purdue Pharma's bankruptcy resolution and may affect local programs addressing opioid misuse. The council approved the measure for the city and will also take the matter to the Board of Public Works and Safety for its consideration at the end of the month. Procedural details: The council moved and seconded the approval and the roll call recorded the motion carried 6-0. Glazier said she will present the item to the Board of Public Works and Safety later in the month to secure the additional vote required by that body.