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Wilkes-Barre officials discuss using up to $65,000 in opioid-settlement funds for youth education and fire-department security
Summary
City officials discussed a mayoral resolution to authorize expenditures of opioid-settlement money, up to $65,000, for narrowly allowed items including anti-drug education for preschool–middle school students, billboards and security upgrades for the Wilkes-Barre Fire Department; an official said roughly $61,000 in the account must be used or returned to the state.
The Wilkes-Barre City Council heard a mayoral resolution authorizing city officials to spend opioid-settlement funds on narrowly allowed items, including age-appropriate anti-drug education for preschool through middle-school students, citywide prevention campaigns and opioid-security upgrades for the Wilkes-Barre Fire Department.
Charlie, who explained the mayoral proposal, said the resolution would authorize expenditures not to exceed $65,000 and stressed the state-imposed limits on allowable uses. “It’s extremely restricted,” Charlie said, adding that “approximately $61,000 should go back to the state unless we have an ability to use it pursuant to the regulations.”
A committee member expressed frustration at the need to target very young children with drug-prevention messaging, saying, “What a sad state of society we’ve become that we have to educate preschool kids on not to do drugs.” That comment came amid council discussion of how the city could partner with the school district and private schools to deliver assemblies and educational materials.
Councilors and staff discussed specific allowable items named in the proposal: anti-drug awareness and age-appropriate educational materials for young students, assemblies coordinated with schools, billboard advertising, and opioid-safety equipment and security measures for fire stations. Charlie said the fire department has a statutory requirement to upgrade the security of opioid storage and that the settlement funds could cover higher-security cameras and secure access measures.
Council members noted press reporting that settlement distributions are scheduled through 2038. A speaker in the meeting referred to “a little over 200” in the account but did not specify the units; meeting remarks make clear only that a multi-year distribution exists. Council members also said they hope the state will expand permitted uses in the future to allow broader local options.
The transcript of the provided meeting segment records discussion and questions but does not record a formal council vote on the resolution. The item remains before the city as a mayoral proposal with staff preparing to coordinate with schools, police and the fire department if the city proceeds.
