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Adams County committee forwards resolution to delegate authority for national opioid settlements
Summary
The Administration Committee voted to send a resolution to the full county board that would let designated county officials sign future national opioid litigation settlement agreements under set conditions, after a Corp Counsel presentation explaining the proposal.
The Adams County Administration Committee voted to send a resolution to the full county board that would authorize designated county officials to sign future national opioid litigation settlement agreements, provided two conditions are met.
Corporation Counsel told the committee that the proposal came from Krieger Dickinson, one of the firms representing the county in national opioid litigation, and was suggested after some counties struggled to approve settlements before deadlines. "We suggest you do a resolution that would authorize whomever you want to designate," Corporation Counsel said, describing the firm’s recommendation that either the county administrator, the county board chair, or the corporation counsel be authorized as signatories for settlements already recommended by the national body.
The resolution, as explained by Corporation Counsel, limits the delegated authority to settlements that have been recommended by the National Committee on Settlements and that carry the percentage allocation already calculated for Adams County by that national committee. Corporation Counsel said those two conditions are intended to prevent unilateral, ad hoc settlement decisions by a local representative. County Administrator Cynthia told the committee she was willing to serve as the primary designee so that the administrator could accept approved settlements and notify the board chair.
Supervisor Kabarski moved to forward the resolution to the county board; Supervisor Edwards seconded the motion. The committee voted to send the resolution to the full county board for consideration.
If the county board approves the resolution, the county administrator would be authorized to accept future settlements that meet the two stated conditions and would notify the board chair. If the board chair requests additional review, the item could still be brought before the administration committee and the full county board.
The resolution will appear on the county board agenda for final action.
