Government Operations Committee approves allocation of state funds to Save A Life Inc.

The Government Operations Committee on Monday, Sept. 23 approved an order to allocate state funds to Save A Life Inc., a Lincoln, Maine–based nonprofit, authorizing a memorandum of understanding that will be placed on the city council’s new-business agenda.

The action, introduced during a short public-health segment of the meeting, directs state-provided funding the city receives for substance-use prevention work to Save A Life Inc. Jen Gunterman, Public Health and Community Services Director, said, “This order is about, allocating funds to Save a Life Inc, which is a nonprofit organization based out of Lincoln, Maine, Northern Penobscot.” She added the group has partnered with the city on recovery resource center work, peer recovery and harm-reduction activities for several years.

Committee members moved and seconded the recommendation; no roll-call vote was recorded in the committee transcript and there were no objections recorded. A committee member noted, “that will actually be on tonight's agenda under new business,” indicating the council will consider the item at its full meeting.

The committee and Gunterman emphasized that the money being allocated is state funding routed to the city for substance-use prevention and not general city-tax revenue. No specific dollar amounts or the MOU text were provided in the committee discussion recorded in the transcript.

The committee took no further public comment during the committee item. The order will appear on the council’s agenda under new business for the full council’s consideration.