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West Lafayette council declines to postpone ordinance on opioid-settlement funds after questions on fund name and allowable uses
Summary
Councilor Sanders asked to postpone an ordinance that would designate use of unrestricted opioid-settlement funds, citing uncertainty about a referenced 'opioid mitigation fund' and broad language; the motion to postpone failed on a roll-call vote, and the ordinance remains on the agenda for Tuesday.
Councilor Sanders sought to postpone consideration of an ordinance that would formally designate how unrestricted opioid-settlement funds may be used, saying he could not locate a record of an "opioid mitigation fund" and was concerned the ordinance’s language (including the phrase "including but not limited to") was too broad.
At the pre-council meeting on August 29, Sanders moved to table ordinance number 31 20 24 to the October meeting and asked for tighter restrictions on permitted spending, arguing the city should not use West Lafayette funds for a Tippecanoe County drug court. The motion was seconded. Supporters of the ordinance, including the presenting councilor, said the purpose was to ensure both restricted and unrestricted settlement funds would be designated and used exclusively to mitigate harms associated with opioid addiction in the community.
The council held a roll-call vote on the motion to postpone. Multiple members voted against tabling the ordinance; Sanders was the lone recorded "Aye." The chair stated the item will be heard on Tuesday as planned rather than postponed. No formal amendments or changes were adopted during the pre-council discussion.
Next steps: the ordinance remains scheduled for the council meeting on Tuesday for further discussion and a possible vote.
