Augusta Council Weighs Opioid-Fund Use for EMS Safes, Reviews Bus Pilot Expansion

The Augusta City Council held an informational meeting where it discussed using opioid settlement funds to cover roughly $50,000 in new secure medication storage required by a DEA mandate for ambulances, and heard a KVCAP proposal to expand a planned four-month bus demonstration route into a longer, three-route pilot program. School Board Chair Martha Witham also gave the council its first in a planned series of monthly updates on district programs, focusing on a new multi-tiered student support system. No formal votes were taken; the opioid funding item was set to return for a decision at the next business meeting.

Key points

• Deputy Chief Steve Leach explained a new DEA rule requiring locked safes and tracking systems for scheduled medications on ambulances; Augusta City Manager Jared Mills proposed using up to $50,000 in opioid settlement funds to cover the cost.
• Councilors generally supported exploring opioid funds for the safes, though several (including Sienkiewicz and Morris-Polley) asked for closer alignment between the funding source and opioid-specific uses, and asked about possible TIF or federal grant alternatives.
• The council informally signaled support (with two dissenting) to bring the opioid funding item back for a formal vote at the next business meeting.
• KVCAP representatives Michelle Prince and Kirk Belavance presented a proposal for a six-to-12-month, three-route "deviated fixed route" bus pilot following the previously approved four-month, $33,000 west-route demonstration project; the new proposal requested a combined local match of about $148,785 plus a shared cost for public outreach through Moving Maine Network.
• Councilor Michaud said he did not want to commit beyond the four-month, $33,000 demonstration project until results are seen; other councilors, including Gary-Allen, thanked KVCAP for adjusting stops based on prior council feedback.
• School Board Chair Martha Witham described the district's new multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) restructuring of education technician roles, noting budget pressures after 39 positions were cut in two years, and announced a September 29 forum on a proposed later high school start time.
• Public commenter Jane Whiteside raised questions about opioid-related data collection, bus safety policy, and city rebranding, and praised recent cleanup efforts near Mill Street.

Next steps

• Council to vote on opioid settlement fund use for EMS medication safes at the next business meeting.
• City Manager Jared Mills to check whether TIF funds can be used for EMS-related costs and whether interest on the opioid settlement fund is reinvested into that fund.
• Deputy Chief Leach to provide Councilor Sienkiewicz with data on scheduled medication usage and opioid overdose responses.
• City Manager to finalize and sign the four-month bus demonstration agreement with KVCAP pending final review.
• KVCAP to continue planning for the proposed three-route pilot, including public meetings with Moving Maine Network and a possible relocation of the bus stop to Mill Park.
• Rebranding and logo committee update postponed to a future council meeting.

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