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1 MINUTES OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 COUNCIL CHAMBERS Present: Councilmembers Kepple, Baker, Bullock, Strebig, Steiner, Evans Also Present: Mayor Meghan George, Law Director Vargo, Finance Director Mahoney, Fire Chief Fairbanks, Neighborhood Paramedic Harper, Human Services Director Berry, Council staff Call to Order: 7:00 p.m. Approval of the minutes of the September 12, 2025 Committee of the Whole. Item deferred to next meeting. Communication from Law Director Vargo regarding Opioid Litigation Settlement. referred to COW 9/2/25) RESOLUTION 2025-44 - A RESOLUTION to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law, authorizing the Mayor or her designee to enter into agreements to participate with other communities and the State of Ohio in the settlement of opioid claims against various companies ( the “ Settling Defendants”). ( referred to COW 9/2/25) Law Director Vargo explained that passage of Resolution 2025-44 will authorize the administration to accept funds from additional defendants named in the national class action lawsuit regarding the opioid crisis, and that Council has already voted to receive previous settlement funds. He shared that, to date, the City has received $ 158,000 for the opioid settlement funds and has spent $ 40,000 of that. He said that there are no time constraints to spend the money, but that the funds must be spent to remedy or prevent opioid abuse. Human Services Director Berry shared that since 2023 his department has partnered with Jim Joyner to provide a family support group for those with loved ones struggling with a substance abuse disorder, using funds from the opioid settlement. He said the group is offered in-person and virtual format and an average of 60 participants per month attend. He also said that the participant feedback has been very positive. In response to a question from President Kepple, Director Vargo clarified that the funds are restrictive in the sense they must be used in a manner that helps to address the opioid crisis, but within that framework there is broad discretion with how the funds can be used. In response to a question from President Kepple, Finance Director Mahoney said that they will continue to see funds from the opioid settlement agreement that Council already approved and that the funds from this new agreement would be additional. She said the City anticipates it will continue to receive funds from this settlement agreement for about another 18 years. Docusign Envelope ID: 1EA20CAA- 876A-4B47-9659-5FD139C42EBF 2 In response to questions from Vice President Baker, Director Vargo said that the administration is in the formative stage of exploring additional ways they can use these funds. He said they do believe they could potentially use the funds to cover staff wages, such as a portion of the salary for the Neighborhood Paramedic position, if they can show opioid impact. Councilmember Hamilton Steiner asked if the funds could be used to purchase Narcan to which Director Vargo replied yes but so far, they have been able to use other grant funds for that expense. In response to a question from Councilmember Bullock, Fire Chief Fairbanks said that anecdotally the incidence of overdoes have declined significantly since they were at their highest during 2017. He said that the Fire Department and the Police Department have since partnered with Project Soar which they believe has contributed to the decline. He suggested a good use of the funds could be to enhance the support provided as part of the Project Soar partnership. Neighborhood Paramedic Harper shared ideas he has discussed with Project Soar to help bridge the gap post treatment such as providing program graduates with scholarships to a sober living facility or purchasing transportation gift cards to help support graduates while looking for a job. He said they have been doing a good job of getting people in treatment, but the fall off happens when participants try to reintegrate with the community. In response to a question from Councilmember Bullock, Law Director Vargo responded that the use of the funds is restricted to opioids, but fentanyl and opioid use often bleed together. He also said that the suggestions from Neighborhood Paramedic Harper are in line with some of the alternative uses they have been exploring. In response to a question from President Kepple, Neighborhood Paramedic Harper provided more information about how the Project Soar program operates. He said that Project Soar has communicated that they are maxed out on the amount of support they can offer due to financial constraints. Human Services Director Berry added that Project Soar has an agreement with the ADAHMS Board to set aside beds at various treatment facilities, and they are able to get people into treatment quickly regardless of insurance coverage. In response to a question regarding the language of the resolution, Law Director Vargo confirmed that, if adopted, Resolution 2025-44 would apply to this batch of funds as well as any future funds that become available under the class action opioid settlement. He said that the collection of the funds is time sensitive but that the use of the funds once collected is not time sensitive. He also clarified that the language only applies to the opioid class action lawsuit. President Kepple made a motion to refer Resolution 2025-44 favorably back to full Council, seconded by Vice President Baker. All members voted in favor. Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 p.m. Docusign Envelope ID: 1EA20CAA- 876A-4B47-9659-5FD139C42EBF 3 Approved: Sarah Kepple, Chair Committee of the Whole Maureen M. Bach, Clerk of Council 9/22/2025 Docusign Envelope ID: 1EA20CAA- 876A-4B47-9659-5FD139C42EBF