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Caswell County formalizes opioid advisory committee, adopts bylaws and affirms membership
Summary
The Board approved the formal establishment of the county's opioid advisory committee, adopted bylaws, and affirmed current membership; settlement funds will continue to be guided by the committee.
County staff presented a proposal to formally recognize the Caswell County Opioid Advisory Committee and adopt its bylaws; the Board of Commissioners voted to appoint the committee membership and to adopt the bylaws on Oct. 20.
Melissa Williamson, county staff, told commissioners the committee was formed in 2022 to guide use of opioid settlement funds but that membership and bylaws had not been formally adopted by the board. "The purpose of bringing this item forward, today is to officially recognize the committee, affirm its membership and adopt bylaws that clearly outline its structure, responsibilities, and operating procedures," Williamson said.
Williamson said the committee reviews funding requests, recommends strategies that align with the state's opioid settlement agreement and submits annual reports to the board. She listed a proposed membership that includes public health (Jennifer Eastwood and Nicole Gibson), law enforcement (Grayson Allred and Melissa Poole), emergency medical services (John Yarbrough), higher education (Shelly Stone Moyer, community college), social services (Michelle Waddell), and community-based organizations including Brandy Newman with SAFE/Starting Point Harm Reduction Coalition.
Commissioner Rose moved to appoint the named members (and to consider future appointments by the regular board appointment process); Commissioner Ingram seconded. The board approved the motion by voice vote. In a separate motion, Commissioner Ingram moved to adopt the opioid advisory committee bylaws as presented; Commissioner Clay seconded and the motion carried.
Williamson told the board the county has received over $2 million from opioid settlements and that settlement funds will continue to arrive over the next 18 years and must be spent on opioid initiatives.
Why it matters: Formalizing the advisory committee establishes an official structure to review and recommend uses of multi-year opioid settlement funds and to report annually to the board.
The board did not specify the three remaining vacant seats in the motion; Williamson said staff will return with nominees for those vacancies.
