Lawrence committee hears opioid-settlement updates as dispute over pregnancy-tracker app surfaces

Lawrence City Councilors and city staff received an update on local spending of opioid-settlement dollars and heard reports from community partners on March 12, as a proposed contract to develop an opioid-focused version of a pregnancy-tracking app prompted a request for a legal review.

The update opened after the committee removed item 44-25 — titled “opioid settlement funds update / Modelo application development” — from the table for discussion. Director Awilda Pimentel told the committee the city has used settlement and grant money to build a network of prevention, harm-reduction and treatment supports, saying, “The overdose crisis has disproportionately affected our population.”

Why it matters: The committee’s discussion tied service reports to proposals for further technology and outreach spending. Councilors pressed whether public money is the appropriate funding source to adapt a commercial pregnancy-tracking product for people impacted by opioid use, and requested a city-attorney review after learning a senior advisor to the mayor has a family tie to the app’s leadership.

What presenters said - Awilda Pimentel, Director, Office of Planning & Community Development: Pimentel summarized the city’s opioid work, including weekly “hub” meetings that engage more than 50 partner organizations and use settlement and grant funds for prevention, treatment, harm reduction, youth prevention and recovery supports. She noted the city leveraged a COSOP grant of roughly $1,200,000 to supplement local work. - Lieutenant (Lawrence Police Department) Fleming reported on overdose trends to justify non‑traditional policing partnerships: “In 02/2024, we had 177 overdoses. 144 non fatal and 33 of those were fatal.” He described a shift toward outreach and same-day linkage to detox rather than enforcement-only responses. - Michael Gorman, Movement Family (TMF): Gorman described weekly outreach and meal services and said the group “averag[es] over 100 individuals that come to the Buckley Garage on a weekly basis.” - Corina Papalado, Psychological Center: Papalado said the center’s Daybreak Shelter — a wet shelter and street-outreach partner — received $50,000 for outreach; other residential programs run by the center did not receive those settlement funds. - Almarie Silverman, Lazarus House Ministries: Silverman said Lazarus House has opened outreach services and received $50,000 to support outreach and detox referrals; the agency reported it is 98% privately funded and served 183 individuals during a recent winter response. - Dan Halloran, Lawrence Prospera, and other youth-service leaders described grant-supported outreach and after‑school programming aimed at ages roughly 14–24. - Nick Encina, Modelo Health: Encina presented the vendor’s pregnancy-tracking product and demonstrated features the company says can be localized and translated into Spanish. He described the product as a “preventive care app” that brings public-data layers, educational content and a patient “passport” together for pregnant users.

Councilor concerns and action requested Councilors raised three core objections: (1) why the city should pay to develop or adapt a commercial app rather than purchase licenses or use existing free resources; (2) whether settlement funds are the right funding source for app development rather than direct services; and (3) the appearance (or potential) of a conflict of interest. During questioning councilors established that: - The contract before the committee was described by staff as up to about $125,000 over 18 months to localize and extend Modelo’s functionality for opioid-affected pregnant and parenting people; staff said existing core features of the vendor’s app already exist and that roughly $30,000 of the contract would be for new opioid-related development. (The director said the city has paid one invoice to date.) - Access: city staff said access for Lawrence residents who qualify under opioid programs will be provided without direct charge by distributing promo codes through partner organizations, and that the opioid-specific features are still in development. - Procurement and disclosures: Councilors asked the city attorney to review whether the project requires an updated conflict-of-interest filing; the committee voted to send that request to the city attorney for an opinion.

Formal actions taken - Item 44-25 (opioid settlement funds update / Modelo application development): Committee members untabled the item for discussion, then — after extended questioning and a city-attorney referral request — voted to table the item so the requested legal review can be completed. The committee also asked staff to supply invoices, the number of licenses the city will receive, and a list of partners who will get free access once the opioid-specific features are deployed.

What’s next The committee asked staff to email the full record of payments and invoices tied to Modelo, the draft contract’s license count, and a list of partner organizations and outreach plans. Council members said they will revisit the item after the city attorney issues an opinion on disclosure or conflict issues.

Who spoke (selected) Awilda Pimentel, Director, Office of Planning & Community Development (city); Lt. Fleming, Lawrence Police Department; Michael Gorman, Movement Family; Corina Papalado, Psychological Center; Almarie Silverman, Lazarus House Ministries; Dan Halloran, Lawrence Prospera; Edwin Candelario, LATONE Boxing; Hector Burrito, outreach/peer recovery coach; Ingrid Tabenal, community outreach contractor; Leo Colon, New England Arts & Cultural Hub; Nick Encina, Modelo Health.

Clarifying details - COSOP grant referenced by city: ~$1,200,000 (as stated by the director). - Model contract ceiling discussed: ~$125,000 for 18 months (city staff). Staff said roughly $30,000 of that would fund app development of opioid-specific features; the remainder supports licenses, analytics and ongoing support. - Daybreak Shelter (Psychological Center) award from opioid settlement funds: $50,000 (stated by CEO Corina Papalado). - TMF (Movement Family) awards described as two smaller awards ($20,000 then $25,000, per speaker).

Proper names and organizations cited Lawrence City (City of Lawrence); Office of Planning & Community Development; Lawrence Police Department; Movement Family (TMF); Psychological Center (Pegasus House, Women’s View, Daybreak Shelter); Lazarus House Ministries; Lawrence Prospera; LATONE Boxing; New England Arts & Cultural Hub; Modelo Health; Lawrence Methuen Community Coalition; Essex County Outreach.

Searchable tags: opioid, opioid-settlement, ModeloHealth, pregnancy, maternal-health, conflict-of-interest, Lawrence-MA

Ending: The committee did not approve the Modelo contract at the March 12 meeting. Councilors asked staff for invoices and license counts, and asked the city attorney to review potential conflicts; the item will return to committee after that review.