Opioid Abatement Commission

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Commission Meeting was presided over by Stephanie Raglin and covered seven agenda items spanning administrative business, informational presentations, and policy work. The commission heard two presentations during the meeting — one from iChampion Health and one on the Billion Pill Pledge — both of which were informational in nature. A total of six votes were taken throughout the meeting, with the agenda, meeting minutes, and a set of recommendations each receiving approval. One public comment was heard during the session.

Attendance

The following members were present at the Commission meeting on July 11, 2025:

• Stephanie Raglin
• Stanfield
• Kimberly Baird
• Sierra Bowman
• Great House
• Moses
• Neal
• Yano
• Sanders
• Woods
• Evans

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

The Commission took six votes during the July 11, 2025 meeting. All votes were conducted by voice, and no individual roll call tallies were recorded.

• Adopt the Agenda 7:43: John Moses moved and Dale Sanders seconded a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. The motion passed.

• Adopt the June 13th Meeting Minutes 8:32: John Moses moved and Peace Cano seconded a motion to adopt the minutes from the June 13th meeting. The motion passed.

• Accept Amended Language in Item Seven 1:04:30: A motion — mover unidentified in the record — seconded by Connie Neal, to accept amended language in number seven. The motion failed.

• Amend Item Seven into an A and B Section 1:18:28: Following the failure of the previous motion, Kimberly Baird moved and John Moses seconded a motion to restructure number seven into an A and B section. The motion passed.

• Remove Carved-Out Allocation to the Health Department for Harm Reduction Services 1:28:15: Connie Neal moved and Angela Evans seconded a motion to remove a carved-out allocation to the Health Department for Harm Reduction Services. The motion passed.

• Approve Finalized Recommendations to Be Given to Mayor Gordon 1:31:22: Mark moved and Margaret Piscicano seconded a motion to approve the finalized recommendations to be submitted to Mayor Gordon. The motion passed.

All six motions were decided by voice vote, with no recorded individual ayes, nays, or abstentions. Five of the six motions passed; the motion to accept the amended language in item seven was the sole motion to fail.

Public Comment

One member of the public addressed the Commission during the public comment period. 1:32:29

• Erica Davenport introduced herself and her organization, TETO (Attorney and Securities to Opportunities), which she described as a transition home for women. Davenport noted her involvement in the community and indicated that she plans to return next month to present more details about the organization and its work.

No other public comments were recorded during this portion of the meeting.

Contested Items

Two items prompted debate among commissioners during the July 11, 2025 meeting.

Housing Recommendation Language and House Bill 5 Compliance

Commissioners disputed the wording of a housing-related recommendation, with the central concern being whether the language as drafted would comply with House Bill 5. The discussion focused on how different housing models were described within the recommendation. To resolve the conflict, commissioners agreed to revise the language by separating permanent and transitional housing models into distinct categories rather than treating them together. The revision was intended to bring the recommendation into alignment with the requirements of House Bill 5.

Direct Allocation to the Health Department for Harm Reduction Services

Commissioners also debated whether the Health Department should receive a direct allocation of funds to support harm reduction services, or whether it should be required to compete for funding through the standard grant application process. The disagreement centered on whether the Health Department warranted special treatment compared to other organizations seeking similar funding. Ultimately, commissioners decided that the Health Department would not receive a direct allocation and would instead apply for grants through the same process available to other organizations.

Roll Call

6:40

Carmen conducted the roll call at the start of the July 11, 2025 Commission meeting. Members' attendance was confirmed, and a quorum was established, allowing the meeting to proceed.

Adopt the Agenda

7:43

The Commission reviewed the agenda for the July 11, 2025 meeting. Stephanie Raglin led this portion of the meeting, and the agenda was taken up for consideration without modification. No concerns or proposed changes were raised, and the agenda was adopted as presented.

Review the Minutes

8:32

The Commission reviewed the minutes from the June 13th meeting. Stephanie Raglin led this portion of the meeting. No concerns or debate were noted regarding the content of the minutes. The minutes were adopted as presented.

Executive Board Report

9:03

Dr. Woods presented the Executive Board Report, providing the Commission with an update from the most recent executive board meeting.

Dr. Woods's report focused on two primary topics:

• Vacancies: The executive board discussed current vacancies within the organization, though specific positions were not detailed in the report.
• Potential Candidates: The board reviewed potential candidates being considered to fill openings on both the executive committee and the full council.

The report was informational in nature, and no votes or formal actions were taken by the Commission in response to the update.

iChampion Health Presentation

12:19

Mindy Eckes and Jacob Hester from the University of Kentucky appeared before the Commission to present on iChampion Health, a community-centered initiative focused on youth and family health promotion.

The presentation was informational in nature. No vote or formal action was taken as a result of this agenda item.

*Note: Additional details regarding the specific content of the presentation, any questions raised by Commission members, or concerns discussed are not available in the provided meeting data.*

Billion Pill Pledge Presentation

33:02

Michael Doty from Goldfinch Health presented information on the Billion Pill Pledge program, an initiative focused on reducing opioid prescriptions through the use of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols.

The presentation was informational in nature. No vote or formal action was taken by the Commission as a result of this item.

*Note: Additional details regarding the specific content of the presentation, any questions raised by commissioners, or further discussion points are not available in the provided source materials.*

Review and Revise Recommendations

1:29:17

The commission took up the review and revision of its recommendations, which are intended to be sent to the mayor. Discussion focused on two key areas: housing models and health department funding.

Key speakers during this portion of the meeting included Carmen and Brittany, who led the discussion and revision process. The commission worked through the existing draft recommendations, debating and refining the language and substance before finalizing them.

The recommendations were ultimately approved by the commission.