Commission staff readies opioid intervention coalition resolution, proposes 11-member advisory list

Tom, a county staff member, told commissioners that staff are preparing a resolution to create an addiction-intervention coalition to manage disbursement of opioid-related funding and that they are "very close on a list of 11" candidates for appointment to the advisory body.

He said the list would include 11 citizens plus an ex officio commissioner and council representative. "We were going to do a kind of a discussion about that, but we're gonna table that till June 4," Tom said, noting the more immediate May meeting was busy. Staff indicated the resolution (Item H) and the related appointments (Item I) remain a work in progress and could be delayed if city partners do not finalize their materials in time.

Commissioner Howe raised a substantive governance concern: he said people who operate substance-abuse services and later apply for funding could shape policy before formally recusing themselves. "If they are actually putting in or applying for money, then they cannot vote," he said; he added that industry participants should not lead the conversation that sets policy they might later benefit from.

County staff responded that the commission will make final appointment and funding decisions and that draft language contemplates recusal when a member would personally benefit from a decision. A county staff member offered to discuss conflict-of-interest language further offline and said commissioners would have the final say when the resolution is formally presented.

The item remains on the agenda as a pending resolution and appointment slate; staff said they may bring a finalized version to the commission at the next meeting or on June 4 if additional time is needed.