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Putnam County law department proposes using opioid settlement funds to fill a DSS attorney vacancy; outside‑counsel costs cited
Summary
Law department told legislators it may use a portion of opioid settlement funds received by Putnam County to cover a vacant social services attorney position and explained rising outside‑counsel expenditures tied to complex litigation and personnel matters.
The law department briefed the committee on proposed uses of opioid settlement proceeds and rising outside counsel costs.
A law department representative said a portion of the county’s share of a multi‑county opioid settlement was being contemplated to fund a vacant Department of Social Services attorney position. The department explained the position is not entry level, that Social Services currently has one full‑time attorney covering day‑to‑day work, and that adding a second attorney would be a one‑time charge against settlement funds with ongoing salary support to come from future budgets if necessary.
Committee members asked whether settlement funds should be prioritized for direct services; one legislator argued for using settlement money toward services for affected residents rather than administrative costs. The law department responded that personnel costs were significant because the departing attorney held a senior rank and replacing that capacity is costly, and that a dedicated attorney would be placed under the law department heading but would devote time to DSS matters.
The law department also provided specific outside‑counsel expenditures — naming Harris Beach as lead counsel on a major construction/bargain litigation with payments of roughly $214,000 in 2023 and $153,000 in 2024 to date — and explained that personnel investigation, discipline and complex contract litigation often require outside counsel to avoid conflicts and for specialized expertise.
No final appropriation decision was made that evening; legislators asked for additional information on the settlement allocation plan and alternatives for directing funds to service delivery.
