Charlestown council withdraws consent to add PBMs in opioid litigation, seals executive-session minutes

The Charlestown Town Council voted unanimously March 20 to withdraw the town's consent to add pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, to pending multi-jurisdictional opioid litigation and to seal the minutes of a related executive session.

The five-member council met in a special session at 6:30 p.m. and moved into executive session "pursuant to Rhode Island General Law 40 two-forty six-forty five(2), pending litigation, multi jurisdictional opioid litigation," as recorded in the meeting transcript. The presiding officer announced, "We are now going into executive session," before the council left open session.

The council recorded one formal vote inside the executive session: a motion to adjourn the executive session and return to open session. That motion was made by Councilor Maher and seconded by Councilor Sarah; the transcript records Councilors Stokes, Sloane, Sarah, Maher and Kearney voting in favor, and the motion carried 5-0. After returning to open session, Councilor Sarah moved to seal the executive-session minutes; Councilor Marr seconded, and the motion passed 5-0.

Back in open session the council considered a motion "for the town to withdraw our consent to add the PBMs, which are the pharmacy benefit managers, to the litigation." Councilor Sloane made the motion and Councilor Sarah seconded. The motion passed unanimously, 5-0, according to the meeting record.

The transcript does not include statements explaining the council's rationale for withdrawing consent to add PBMs, nor does it record any public comment or additional debate on the matter. The meeting record also does not specify next steps or any changes to the town's participation in the broader multi-jurisdictional litigation.

The council then moved to adjourn; Councilor Stokes made the motion, Councilor Sarah seconded, and the meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m.