Opioid Review Committee Makes First Recommendations

The newly formed Opioid Settlement Review Committee for Washington County concluded its first meeting on Monday morning. Chairman of the committee Dr. John Tamiggi was pleased with how the meeting went and credited the group members for working together to do what is best for the community. During Monday’s meeting, eight submissions were reviewed. Of these eight submissions, two of them were tabled. These included programs affiliated with UPMC Washington’s Opioid Use Support & Mitigation program and Serenity Farms Inc. and Scaffold Builders Coaching & Consulting Accountability Recovery and Workforce Pathway project. Tamiggi explained that these submissions required further review, and they will be the first projects to be considered for funding next year. Only five members voted on the submissions. Dan Buzzard, the court administrator for the Washington County courts, and Joe Glover, the police chief of Peters Township, did not participate. After the meeting was adjourned, Tamiggi explained the absence of the two committee members. Although they originally agreed to serve on the committee, their governing offices would not allow their participation. According to Tamiggi, these positions should be filled later in the summer. A special meeting will be held this Thursday where the Board of Commissioners will review, and potentially approve, the applications.