GeorgetownCARES Coalition Committee – Meeting Minutes 9/14/23

GeorgetownCARES

Coalition Committee

Town Hall, Georgetown, MA 01833

(978) 352-5755

Pamela Lundquist, Chair

Police Chief Donald Cudmore

                Fire Chief Matt McKay

Douglas Dawes, Georgetown Selectman

GeorgetownCARES Coalition Committee

(formerly the Substance Abuse Advisory Panel)

Meeting Minutes – Thursday, September 14, 2023 10:30-11:30 am

The Perley School, Superintendant’s Conference Room

In attendance: Chair Pam Lundquist, Selectman Doug Dawes, Police Chief Donald Cudmore, Superintendent Margo Ferrick.  Meeting called to order at 10:30 A.M.

CORRESPONDENCE

Approved Meeting Minutes for May 18, 2023. (unanimous VOTE)

NEW BUSINESS/DISCUSSION:

Selectman Dawes updated us on future Host Agreement & impact fee payments from Mission Dispensary, which will NOT be forthcoming. The State Legislature has ruled that such payments will be disallowed going forward beyond Nov. 2022. In several local towns, cannabis businesses that have made such payments are actually in court with those towns, attempting to get their money returned.

The administration of the Opioid Settlements Funds, which are scheduled to arrive annually in Georgetown for the next 13 years (until 2037), will rest with the Georgetown Select Board, assisted by our Town Administrator, Orlando Pacheco. The Massachusetts Abatement Terms give instructions as to how these funds can be used. Both Section 3 – Connections to Careand Section 7 – Prevent Misuse of Opioids and Implement Prevention Education of the Massachusetts Abatement Terms may potentially allow for substitute funding for GCCC funds going forward.

It was recommended to our community partners, The GYCC, The Pettengill House, and the Georgetown Schools via ECAB, that they make requests for future funding aligned with the Massachusetts Abatement terms, which they have been provided with, by contacting both the Town Administrator, Orlando Pacheco, and the Select Board Chair, Ms. Amy Smith. See contact information below.

The GCCC VOTED unanimously to disband the GeorgetownCARES Coalition Committee (GCCC) as of today. 

The GCCC wishes to express their deep gratitude to Mission Dispensary for their kind generosity and to all of our GCCC members and community partners who have dedicated their time and commitment to helping all who struggle with substance use in Georgetown over the last seven years. 

ADJOURNMENT – 11:00am

Respectfully Submitted, Pam Lundquist, Chair, GCCC

Mission Statement - The GeorgetownCARES Coalition Committee (GCCC) is a community health and0safety initiative seeking to encourage Georgetown citizens of all ages to make safe, healthy and responsible decisions about substance-use. Our mission is to promote substance abuse prevention strategies, education and resources aimed at making Georgetown the healthiest community it can be. 

CONTACTS for potential funding through Georgetown’s Opioid Settlement Funds

Ms. Amy Smith, Georgetown Select Board Chair asmith@georgetownma.gov

Mr. Orlando Pacheco, Georgetown Town Administrator 0pacheco@georgetownma.gov

978-352-5755