By Bill Short
The Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen has adopted a resolution to participate with other local governments and the state in an “opioid abatement agreement.”
Board members took the action during their Dec. 13, 2021 regular monthly meeting on a motion offered by Alderman Thomas McGhee and seconded by Alderman Jon Crisp.
The motion was passed by five affirmative votes, with Aldermen Bethany Huffman and Don Lowry absent.
The resolution states that Millington has and will continue to suffer harm as a result of the opioid epidemic.
It notes that the state of Tennessee and some of its counties and cities have filed lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Included are many federal lawsuits that are pending in the litigation.
A manufacturer and certain pharmaceutical distributors have proposed settlements that Millington considers acceptable and in the best interest of the community.
The resolution states that the 112th Tennessee General Assembly enacted Public Chapter 491, which Gov. Bill Lee signed into law on May 24, 2021.
It addresses the allocation of funds from certain proposed opioid litigation settlements.
The board’s resolution notes that the state, counties and cities have proposed the Tennessee State-Subdivision Opioid Abatement Agreement.
It includes a framework of a unified plan for the allocation and use of prospective settlement and bankruptcy funds from opioid-related litigation.
The resolution states that participation by a large majority of Tennessee cities and counties will “materially increase” the amount of funds that the state will receive from pending proposed opioid settlements.
It expresses Millington’s support for the unified plan, because it would “ensure an effective structure” for the commitment of settlement funds to abate and seek to resolve the opioid epidemic.
The resolution expressly authorizes Mayor Terry Jones to execute any formal agreements necessary to effectuate Millington’s participation in the unified plan and the settlements.
During discussion shortly before the vote, City Attorney Gerald Lawson acknowledged that Millington “joined in on the coattails” of the other lawsuits, because it lacks the ability to pursue one that large.
He said a “large chunk of money” will be coming into the state, and it will be paid out “over a period of years” on the settlements.
