Lexington Opioid Abatement Commission reappoints leadership, awaits mayor and council action on litigation‑fund recommendations
Loading...
Summary
The commission reappointed its chair, vice chair and secretary in voice votes, received an executive committee report on outreach and transparency work, and heard that recommendations on opioid‑settlement spending have been forwarded to the mayor and are pending council approval.
The Lexington Opioid Abatement Commission reappointed its current leadership by voice vote and received a report from the executive committee on outreach efforts and the status of recommendations sent to the mayor.
At the start of the meeting Carmen Combs called the roll and the commission established a quorum. After approving the meeting agenda and March 14 minutes by voice vote, members proceeded to executive‑business. Connie Neal, serving as secretary, reported to the full commission that the executive committee had contacted the mayor about implementation of recommendations on opioid‑settlement litigation funds and is awaiting a response. Neal also reported that a March 12 press conference drew positive public feedback and that several commission members had attended a state health policy forum where counties discussed deliberative approaches to spending settlement funds.
The commission then opened nominations for its annual leadership slate. By voice vote the commission reappointed Dr. Stephanie Ragland as chair, Tara Stanfield as vice chair and Connie Neal as secretary for another one‑year term. The meeting record shows the nominations were moved and seconded and closed by vote; the reappointments were accepted and no roll‑call tallies were recorded.
Neal and other commissioners discussed upcoming outreach: the Kentucky state Opioid Abatement Commission will hold an educational conference in Louisville on Oct. 7–8 and local town‑hall meetings are being planned for spring and summer weather permitting. The executive report also noted that the statutory categories that govern allowable uses of opioid settlement funds will not change and that a state effort is underway to publish county allocations and usage data to a transparency website; no timetable for that site was provided.
The commission reiterated its advisory role: it makes recommendations to the mayor and city council but does not itself appropriate funds. The meeting closed with an announcement of the next meeting date and a motion to adjourn.
