Washington Co. appealing decision on 鈥榥on-compliant鈥� opioid grants
Washington County officials are appealing the decision by the state’s opioid settlement fund review committee to reject eight grant applications put forward by the county for various projects battling the drug epidemic in the region.
The Dispute Resolution Committee overseeing the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust fund will hold a public hearing at 12:15 p.m. March 13 to allow county officials to explain why the eight projects deemed “non-compliant” in December should be given a second look.
The county is appealing the decision of seven of the eight that were rejected since Commission Chairman Nick Sherman acknowledged the request by North Strabane Township for $87,123 for a resource officer fell outside the scope of allowable uses since grants for law enforcement purposes are not permitted under the terms of the settlement.
The other non-compliant grants in Washington County were for LOYAL After School Programming for $125,000; The Hill Group’s Washington Co. OUD Services Assessment for $58,500; Washington STEAMworks for $45,000; Jeff Hancher Enterprises Success Readiness Framework for $45,000; Leadership Development LLC’s 911 Training for $35,000; Shekinah Youth Ranch of the Mon Valley’s Youth Prevention Program for $25,000; and Regola Consulting Grant Management for $18,000.
“We’re being given an opportunity to provide the information they asked for, and we’re hopeful they’ll be granted,” Sherman said. “I’m confident they’ll be approved. We see no reason why the other seven won’t be approved.”
Another nine grants totalling $949,910 are listed as “still under consideration,” although the county provided additional information about the organizations by the committee’s Dec. 22 deadline. A total of 22 grants in Washington County from the March reporting period and another 11 in December were approved by the committee.
Sherman said county officials were surprised by the number of grant projects that were rejected and blamed it on a revised review process that changed what information was needed in the description of the application. Of the more than 200 grant applications reviewed by the committee at the review committee’s December meeting, Washington County had eight out of the 11 non-compliant requests.
“If they’re going to change the criteria, that’s fine. But that should be done pre-awardance and not after the fact,” Sherman said.
The appeal process comes just as the county commissioners voted unanimously during Thursday’s meeting to appoint seven people to the county’s own opioid settlement fund review committee that will recommend which projects should receive grants. In addition, the statewide trust is sending a “liaison” to guide county officials on the process of selecting qualified projects for grant money.
Commissioner Larry Maggi, who pushed for the formation of the county’s own opioid settlement fund review committee, said the selection of the seven members to sit on that board is a step in the right direction. But he added that the county should also create “firm” application guidelines, publicize the process and provide support to organizations seeking grants.
“Transparency must be the focus of this process,” Maggi said in a written statement. “We are the custodians of these funds that are to be used to fight the opioid epidemic. It is our responsibility to ensure they are used properly, and in the best interest of the people of Washington County.”
The members appointed to the committee are Washington County Human Services Director John Tamiggi, Court Administrator Daniel Buzard, Charleroi Area Superintendent Ed Zelich, Washington Teen Outreach Community Coordinator Amy Podgurski-Gough, Washington County Community Foundation President and CEO Aliesha Walz, Peters Township police Chief Joe Glover and Teresa Cypher, who is a certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor and operator at Washington-based Turning Point II.
Meanwhile, the Dispute Resolution Committee’s March 13 hearing is scheduled from 12:15 to 3 p.m., with the review of Washington County’s appeal taking place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The meeting will be streamed online at www.zoom.us/j/91335344866.
More information about the opioid settlement trust fund, the committee and the projects can be found online at www.paopioidtrust.org.