The Penobscot County Commission voted to approve the recovery committee’s recommended allocations of opioid-settlement funds, authorizing a first round of awards to locally focused prevention and recovery programs.

Jamie Beck (speaker 10), chair of the recovery committee, told commissioners the panel reviewed 33 applications and recommended 12 awards to spread services across prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. Beck said committee decisions aimed to maximize people served and sustainability rather than funding administrative overhead.

Among the allocations Beck read into the record were $10,000 to Saint Andre Home for transportation and basic needs; $34,880 to a youth-focused program identified as Kingless CAST save program; $39,000 to place a recovery coach in St. Joseph’s emergency room; and awards to other recovery and prevention providers including Single Life Recovery Resources, Fresh Start and Needle Point Sanctuary. Beck said several applicants were reduced or ruled ineligible because their proposals did not meet the opioid-settlement fund criteria or could be sustained through other funding sources.

Chair moved to accept the committee’s recommendations; the motion was seconded and commissioners approved the slate by voice vote. Commissioners and committee members stressed tracking, transparent contracting and reporting to ensure funds are used for the authorized purposes and to allow future review by the county and state.

The commission asked staff to work with the committee on contracts and reporting requirements to satisfy state reporting rules for opioid-settlement distributions. Commissioners said they would revisit criteria and application guidance for future rounds to make the process clearer for applicants.

Next steps: contracts will be drafted with specific allowable uses and reporting terms; the committee and county finance staff will meet after the new year to implement contracting and monitoring.