Commissioners discuss cooperative purchasing, legislative priorities, staff reclassifications and opioid fund coordinator

Montgomery County commissioners discussed several resolutions and departmental requests during their Jan. 6, 2025 informal meeting, including cooperative purchasing authorization, the county’s 2025 legislative agenda, staff reclassifications and a new position to coordinate opioid settlement spending.

Cooperative purchasing (Resolution 2511) prompted the most extended questioning. Several commissioners, including Commissioner Leverett and Commissioner Woodruff, asked whether adopting the resolution would limit local vendors or channel county purchases to particular firms. The county’s purchasing agent, identified in the transcript as Miss Black, said state law requires a commission resolution to allow participation in cooperative purchasing agreements and that the mechanism is optional for departments: “It really doesn't limit anything, and it's normally for larger purchases like a fire truck,” she said. Miss Black explained cooperatives…