MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown City Council also approved a “Letter of Support,” that gives an official endorsement of Milan Puskar Health Right’s Harm Reduction Program, as part of the meeting’s consent agenda. Milan Puskar Health Right, a local public health service facility which host drug harm reduction programs, takes various approaches towards tackling drug addiction within the confines of its Downtown Morgantown location.
“It’s going to be a much more regulated path moving forward, and that’s where we’re at,” said Milan Puskar Health Right Social Worker Caitlin Sussman. “So we’re here to ask you to please allow us to continue to provide this life-saving intervention,” she said.
The letter of recommendation, is one of several requirements being implemented in West Virginia to drug related Harm Reduction Programs. Along with the recommendation, the new state standards for Harm Reduction Programs, will also address requirements for people to use the services provided by Milan Puskar Health Right. This includes the need for a valid form of identification, as well as the implementation of a direct needle exchange program, and various programs that would only be moderately adjusted or not adjusted at all.
“This is now going to require us to have West Virginia identification from our participants, we’re going to try really hard to get as many ID’s for people and help people get that,” said Sussman regarding the changes. “It’s going to require an exchange, not a giveaway,” she also mentioned regarding the changes to the needle program.
The new state standards also include the offering of alternative services such as addiction and disease prevention education and treatment programs for diseases such as Hepatitis C. Services that according to Sussman, are already provided by Milan Puskar Health Right, and with the letter of recommendation, these services can continue with a few extra security measures.
“The truth is, we already do this,” said Sussman. “And Monongalia County is home to the gold standard for harm reduction programs in the region, we train people all over the state and the region,” she said.
If Milan Puskar Health Right doesn’t receive the endorsement, and in turn the license, they could face fines of up to $10,000.
Also, the city of Morgantown will receive $11,243,509 in American Rescue Plan money in two installments – one of $5,621,754.50 and a similar amount in the spring of 2022.
Members of the public voiced preferences from August 1 to August 21, during that time 540 responses generated more than 4,000 ideas for projects. Additionally, city leaders and department heads were available to answer questions during two additional public meetings.
The categories included water and sewer infrastructure, public health, social services, downtown/community investment, emergency services, planning and technology.
Morgantown city manager Kim Haws has been sharing plans for the use of American Rescue Plan money and provided an update to council members.
“We’ve been able to share it with various components in the community and I can tell that I don’t think I’ve heard one negative comment,” Haws said.
Second Ward councilor Bill Kawecki would like to spend money to improve safety at the pavilion use for the downtown farmers market. Kawecki also expressed desire to invest in other portions of the downtown to promote activities.
” I’d like to see us consider whatever we can do that would improve that facility and extend the kind of activities that it would present to the community,” Kawecki said.