Agenda - 09-02-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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11 1 The State Auditor and Department of Justice shall have access to persons and records 2 related to the MOA and expenditures of Opioid Settlement Fund to verify accounts and 3 data affecting fees for performance. 4 The Local Government manager is the point of contact for questions that arise under the 5 MOA. 6 7 The County may secure additional funds from the 5% county incentive fund if each municipality 8 in Orange County also adopts the MOA. 9 10 John Roberts reviewed the background information for the item. 11 Commissioner Greene thanked John Roberts for giving a good summary of the item. 12 She said the goal has been to avoid what happened with the tobacco settlement money. She 13 said it is wonderful that all have realized that local governments are the front line workers, they 14 understand how to deal with it, and they should be entrusted with the money. She said this 15 money cannot be used for other causes without penalty. She said Option A is for high impact, 16 and are simpler to use. She said many items on option A and B are things that Orange County 17 is already doing. She said Orange County is a leader, and likewise North Carolina is a leader 18 and a model for how to do this and how to get the money in the right hands. 19 Commissioner Dorosin asked if there is a timeline by which local governments have to 20 select which option they want to pursue. 21 Commissioner Greene said areas in Option A are things can be done quickly, and 22 without reporting. She said areas under Option B have a process. 23 Commissioner Dorosin asked if options A and B are mutually exclusive. 24 Commissioner Greene said no. 25 Commissioner Bedford thanked Commissioner Greene and John Roberts for the work 26 they have done and time they have put in. 27 Commissioner Greene thanked the staff for their help. 28 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the lessons learned from the tobacco settlement could 29 be explained, and what this settlement is trying to avoid. 30 John Roberts said the State was the recipient of the tobacco settlement, and did not give 31 local governments control over the use and distribution of those funds. He said that the State 32 used the funds for things that were not related to tobacco. 33 Commissioner Greene said 80% of the money will go straight to the counties, 5% is 34 called incentive money, which counties will receive if all local municipalities sign up to 35 participate. She asked if there is a plan in place to get Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and Carrboro 36 to sign up. 37 John Roberts said it is only required for municipalities with populations over 30,000, but 38 he would talk to all of them for their approval. 39 Chair Price asked if there is a time limit for getting approval. 40 John Roberts said not specifically. He said North Caroline Association of County 41 Commissioners (NCACC)just gave guidance. 42 Commissioner Greene said the case has not actually settled yet. 43 Chair Price asked if the municipalities have been involved. 44 Commissioner Greene said in the work she did, they were not part of the agreement that 45 was negotiated. 46 Chair Price thanked Commissioner Greene and John Roberts for their work on the 47 agreement. 48 Commissioner Fowler asked if there could be clarification on the timeline of the 49 settlement and the agreement. 50 Commissioner Greene said the idea was to get ahead of the settlement, so the minute it 51 settles, the agreement will be in place.