Manchester committee accepts $500,000 opioid settlement, approves funding for Hope Connections and 231 Merrimack transitional housing

The Committee on Community Improvement of the Manchester City Commission approved a package of budget authorizations at its meeting, including acceptance of $500,000 from the state opioid litigation settlement trust and funding for local recovery and housing programs.

The votes forwarded the items to the full board and were approved on voice votes. Alderman Long moved the first motion, which was seconded by Alderman Jerio.

Committee members pressed for specifics about how opioid-settlement money would be used. Alderman Cantor asked, “Yes. I was just wondering where is this money specifically going?” The Mayor replied, “This is this is the dollar that comes from the state that go into the the CIP fund that's set up for it, and then we as a board determine where it goes.”

The committee approved two items tied to Hope for New Hampshire Recovery’s Hope Connections program: a $201,000 transfer and an additional request to accept a donated vehicle from the Fire Department to support Hope Connections. Both items were approved by voice vote.

Two related items involving 231 Merrimack Street drew the most detailed questions. A city staff member summarized the plan: “So that's the group from Nashville. It's a non profit organization. It's owned by a pastor and his wife, and they purchased 231 Merrimack Street. ... This is what we had talked about in a, a few meetings ago. But it has 16 units in it that they…