Marlborough council establishes opioid settlement fund, restores mayor's $5,000 expense line

MARLBOROUGH — March 11, 2024 — Marlborough City Council creates opioid settlement fund and restores mayor's $5,000 expense line in mid-year transfer. The council voted 11-0 to establish an Opioid Settlement Special Revenue Fund with an initial $162,202.95 transfer from free cash, governed by a six-item spending framework from the Finance Committee. At-Large Councilor Mark A. Oram thanked Mayor J. Christian Dumas's office for "making sure this money didn't get lost in free cash." Ward 5 Councilor John J. Irish then moved to amend the Finance Committee's $1,197,100 mid-year transfer recommendation by adding back $5,000 for the mayor's expense account; the amendment and the full $1,202,100 transfer both passed 11-0. A proposed Communications and Special Projects Director position remains stalled in Finance after a 2-3 committee vote. Sean Fay, Barbara Fenby and Christopher Russ were reappointed to the Planning Board through Feb. 5, 2029.