The Opioid Abatement Authority board held its November meeting and approved a slate of officer elections, a new equitable distribution policy for grants, updated grant terms and conditions and personnel and compensation adjustments after a closed-session review.

Senator Todd Pillion was nominated and elected chair by voice vote; Dr. Thomason was re-elected vice chair, Tim Spencer was affirmed as secretary, and Delegate Brianna Sewell continued as treasurer. The board held the annual officer elections required by statute and the authority’s bylaws.

Tony McDowell, the OAA’s executive director, introduced a proposed equitable distribution policy aimed at ensuring geographic balance in grant awards across the Commonwealth while noting the policy’s effectiveness depends on regions submitting applications. The grants committee had recommended the policy for approval; the full board voted to adopt it.

The board also approved updates to the OAA’s grant terms and conditions. Staff said the updates clarify acceptance timelines and compliance steps for grantees and will take effect for awards beginning on or after July 1, 2026.

After a closed session held under Virginia law to discuss personnel matters, the board moved and approved staffing and compensation adjustments recommended by the personnel committee to take effect in the first full pay period of January 2026. The board separately approved performance-based compensation for employees supervised by the executive director, again by motion and voice vote.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of June 5 minutes — voice vote; chair announced motion carried.
- Election of officers (chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer) — voice votes; chair announced each carried.
- Adoption of equitable distribution policy — motion approved by voice vote.
- Approval of updated grant terms and conditions — motion approved by voice vote.
- Enter/exit closed session and certifications — motions approved; closed session used for personnel matters under Virginia code.
- Approval of staffing and compensation adjustments (effective Jan. 2026) — motion approved by voice vote.
- Approval of performance-based compensation for employees under the executive director — motion approved by voice vote.

What this means
Board approval of the equitable distribution policy and the terms updates codifies timelines and compliance expectations for cities, counties and state agencies that receive OAA awards. The personnel decisions indicate the board endorsed the personnel committee’s recommended staffing and pay changes following confidential deliberations in closed session.

The meeting concluded with staff noting that meeting materials and the PowerPoint presentation will be posted on the OAA website.