Opioid Abatement Commission

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Opioid Abatement Commission convened with Stephanie Raglan presiding as the meeting officer. The commission addressed two main agenda items during the session, both of which were informational in nature and did not require formal action.

The meeting focused on two key areas of commission business. The first agenda item was an Executive Board Report, which provided commissioners with updates on board activities and decisions. The second item covered Work Group Meetings, offering information about the various working groups' progress and activities within the commission's structure.

During the course of the meeting, commissioners took three formal votes on various matters, though the specific details of these votes were not specified in the available records. No members of the public provided comments during the designated public comment period, indicating either limited public attendance or no requests to address the commission.

The session appeared to be primarily focused on internal commission operations and coordination, with both agenda items serving to keep commissioners informed about ongoing activities rather than requiring substantive policy decisions or new initiatives.

Attendance

Present: • Stephanie Raglan • Tara Sanfield • Kimberly Baird • Sierra Bowman • Angela Evans • John Moses • Margaret Pesciano • Dr. Matt Webster • Laurie Brock

Absent: • Connie Neal • Dale Sanders • Dr. Woods • Commander Matthew Greathouse

Late: None

Nine commission members were present for the meeting, with four members absent. No members arrived late to the session.

Votes and Decisions

The Commission conducted three votes during the meeting, all of which passed by voice vote.

Agenda Approval 2:00 Margaret Pesciano moved to approve the meeting agenda, with a second from Laurie Brock. The motion passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

Minutes Approval 4:00 Sierra Bowman made a motion to approve the minutes from the September 27th meeting, seconded by Angela Evans. The motion carried by voice vote with no dissenting votes.

Adjournment 180:00 Stephanie Raglan moved to adjourn the meeting, with Commander Greathouse providing the second. The motion to adjourn passed by voice vote.

All three motions were decided through voice votes rather than formal roll call votes, with no recorded opposition or abstentions for any of the items considered.

Executive Board Report

6:00

Vice Chair Tara Sanfield presented the Executive Board Report, focusing on two potential initiatives for the commission's consideration.

Recovery-Ready Reception Sanfield discussed the concept of organizing a recovery-ready reception, though specific details about the format, timing, or target audience were not elaborated upon during this portion of the meeting.

Training and Outreach Conference The primary focus of the report centered on a potential conference that the commission is considering hosting. According to Sanfield, this conference would serve a dual purpose:

• Provide training opportunities for clinicians working in recovery and substance abuse services
• Offer educational outreach to community members

The proposed conference represents part of the commission's broader efforts to enhance both professional development within the recovery field and public awareness of recovery-related issues in the community.

Outcome This agenda item was informational in nature, with Sanfield presenting these concepts for the commission's awareness and future consideration. No formal decisions were made regarding either the recovery-ready reception or the training conference during this discussion. The items appear to be in the preliminary planning stages, with the Executive Board exploring these possibilities as part of the commission's ongoing work to support recovery initiatives and community engagement.

The commission did not take any formal action on these proposals during this meeting, suggesting that further development and planning may be needed before these initiatives move forward.

Work Group Meetings

120:00

The Commission discussed scheduling work group meetings to facilitate better attendance among members. John Moses and Sierra Bowman led the discussion on implementing virtual meeting options for work groups.

The primary focus was on using virtual platforms to make work group meetings more accessible to commissioners who may have difficulty attending in-person sessions. The Commission recognized that scheduling conflicts and travel constraints have been barriers to full participation in work group activities.

To address scheduling challenges, the Commission decided to implement a polling system to determine optimal meeting times that would accommodate the most participants. This approach aims to maximize attendance by identifying time slots that work best for the majority of work group members.

The discussion emphasized the importance of maintaining active work group participation, as these smaller committee meetings are essential for advancing the Commission's various initiatives and projects. Virtual meeting capabilities would provide flexibility while ensuring continuity of work group activities.

No specific concerns were raised during the discussion, and the conversation was informational in nature. The Commission appeared to be in agreement about moving forward with virtual work group meetings and using polls to coordinate scheduling. This represents a procedural adjustment designed to improve operational efficiency and member engagement in the Commission's ongoing work.