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Lakewood council refers opioid settlement participation resolution to committee; law director outlines use limits
Summary
Law Director Vargo told council the city would receive a share of statewide settlement funds if it opts in; council referred a resolution authorizing participation to the Committee of the Whole for more detailed review.
Law Director Vargo briefed Lakewood City Council on Sept. 2 about proposed continuing settlements in national opioid litigation and the city—s option to participate in future settlement rounds. Council referred a resolution authorizing the mayor or her designee to enter into agreements to participate in statewide opioid settlements to the Committee of the Whole for further review.
Vargo said the city would receive funds according to a statewide formula negotiated in a One Ohio memorandum of understanding developed by the state attorney general. He said participation is contingent on a requisite percentage of political subdivisions opting in; the exact amount Lakewood would receive depends on overall participation statewide. Vargo said the structure and terms of the new settlements are "identical in structure to the settlements already approved by council 2 years ago and 3 years ago," with new defendants joining the settlement pool.
He told council the next round of settlements was expected Oct. 8, and he described permitted uses and reporting obligations: settlement funds must be used to address the opioid crisis (the settlement sets that requirement), although using funds for other purposes is possible but would trigger "extraordinary" reporting obligations. Vargo said the city has used prior settlement funds for a third-party consultant, training and resourcing first responders and related strategies.
Council members asked for additional detail and suggested committee review that would include public safety, health and human services and finance. Council members asked for a refreshed summary of how the city has used prior opioid settlement funds, outcomes of programs funded and whether funds were used for Narcan and non-emergency medical transport support. Vargo and staff agreed to bring more detailed information to committee.
Ending: Council referred Resolution 20-25-44 to Committee of the Whole for a fuller briefing on legal terms, allocation formula and proposed programmatic uses before any final authorization to participate.
