Bangor Opioid Committee Recommends Funding Shift to Wabanaki Project

The Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee voted to adjust its funding recommendation for the City of Bangor, removing the Bangor Public Health and Community Services project to fully fund the Wabanaki Public Health initiative. The committee also agreed to partially fund the Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine project while fully funding the Timberwolves NAC project. This final recommendation will be presented to the full City Council for approval.

Key points

• The committee voted to remove the Bangor Public Health and Community Services project from the funding list, citing that the department had already received significant prior funding.
• The freed-up funds will be used to fully finance the Wabanaki Public Health project, which had not previously received opioid settlement money.
• The Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine project will receive half of its requested amount, or $12,500, due to its service area extending beyond Bangor city limits.
• The Timberwolves NAC project will receive its full requested amount of $50,000.
• Committee members discussed the legal implications of the changes before finalizing the motion for a roll call vote.

Next steps

• City staff will prepare a council order articulating the committee's final funding recommendation.
• The recommendation will be scheduled for a vote by the full City Council, potentially at the next regular meeting.

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