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Council adopts consent agenda including ordinances to expand peer recovery worker opportunities
Summary
The council adopted its consent agenda, which included multiple ordinances (items 7–16 and others listed on the consent agenda). Public testimony from a peer recovery specialist urged passage of measures that would reduce employment barriers for certified peer support workers.
Richmond City Council adopted its consent agenda Monday evening, approving a package of ordinances on the consent calendar. The clerk read the consent items before council and the public hearing on the consent calendar produced a public speaker who urged passage of changes to support peer recovery workers.
Marlon Baycode, a peer recovery specialist, told council he has multiple certifications and degrees but faces barriers to working in some city programs because of background-check disqualifications under existing Virginia regulations. He specifically addressed ordinances listed as items 8 through 12 and said the measures would expand the pool of qualified peer support workers available to serve people in low-income neighborhoods.
Baycode described long-standing difficulties in working with clients covered by Medicaid because of “barrier crimes” that prevent otherwise-qualified peer specialists from employment in state-funded settings. He said passage of the ordinances would allow him and similarly trained workers to provide peer support in Richmond where they live.
Following the public hearing on the consent agenda, council members voted to adopt the consent package as presented. The clerk called the roll; members recorded ayes and the items on the consent agenda were adopted.
