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Council authorizes city solicitor to act on opioid settlements; city has received about $488,000 so far
Summary
The council granted the solicitor authority to execute documents related to opioid litigation settlements that may require quick action. Solicitor Marcelo said the city has received or is scheduled to receive about $488,000 to date; funds must be used for opioid-related programs under strict guidelines.
The East Providence City Council on Aug. 19 authorized the city solicitor to execute settlement documents related to the national opioid litigation and to take action when settlement deadlines make it impractical to wait for a council meeting.
Solicitor Marcelo told the council the city previously joined national opioid litigation and that settlements can arrive on tight timelines. He said he could not predict the exact dollar amount for any single upcoming settlement because allocations are formula-driven, but that the total the city has received or is scheduled to receive to date is roughly $488,000. He emphasized the settlements come with strict use guidelines requiring funds to be targeted to opioid- and addiction-related programs and not deposited to the general fund.
The council discussed the parameters and asked for clearer guidance on eligible uses. The solicitor and the chief of staff both said statewide resources and coalition meetings provide additional guidance and that staff will provide the council with the written guidelines that accompany each settlement tranche.
Council members voted to grant the solicitor authority to execute settlement documents when timing does not allow placement on a council docket; the vote was approved by voice vote.
