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Norton council pledges $5,000 in local opioid-abatement funds to workforce reengagement program; backs Isaiah 117 House grant bid with revised language
Summary
Norton City Council unanimously adopted a $5,000 commitment from its local Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority allocation to the Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board's ROPES reengagement program and approved a separate resolution supporting an Isaiah 117 House VOAA grant application with amended language clarifying the city will 'consider' executing any operational agreement.
Norton City Council on Feb. 17 unanimously adopted a resolution committing $5,000 from the city’s local Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (VOAA) allocation to the Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board’s Reengagement Opportunities & Pathways to Employment Success (ROPES) program.
City Manager Jeffery A. Shupe told the council the packet included a staff summary of the city’s opioid-abatement funds — amounts received, expended and committed — and said the ROPES resolution was prepared by the workforce board as part of a VOAA grant application. Vice Mayor Mark Caruso said he had spoken with Rachel Patton, the board’s executive director, who "indicated that she was very thankful for council providing these dollars" and was hopeful the grant would allow the program to continue placing people in work.
Council also voted to adopt a resolution supporting an Isaiah 117 House application to the VOAA, with a change to the resolution’s wording requested by council. Vice Mayor Caruso raised concern about a provision that would have stated the city "agrees they will execute a legally binding operational agreement" if the grant is awarded. City Attorney Matthew R. Dotson proposed changing that clause to say the City of Norton "agrees that it will consider executing a legally binding operational agreement," and council approved the amendment before adopting the resolution. The city manager said Isaiah 117 House is not requesting additional city funding at this time; the group plans to apply for VOAA funds by the March 16 application deadline and may later ask a participating locality to serve as fiscal agent if a local house is identified.
The council’s actions were procedural approvals of the city’s support for two separate VOAA-related proposals; neither action committed additional city operating funds beyond the $5,000 ROPES allocation approved. The city manager was authorized to execute documents associated with the Isaiah 117 House resolution.
