Minutes 08/10/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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August 10, 2021 WHEREAS , on May 1, 2021, the Portsmouth Professional Firefighters & Paramedics Association, IAFF Local 539 formally submitted 185 authorization cards, presumably representing a majority of public employees in a unit considered by employees to be appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining, namely firefighters and Emergency Medical Services personnel; and WHEREAS, in accordance with § 40.1-57.2 the governing body of a locality shall within 120 days of receiving certification from a majority of public employees in a unit considered appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining take a vote to adopt or not adopt an ordinance or resolution to provide for collective bargaining by such public employees and any other public employees deemed appropriate by the governing body; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia: 1. That the City of Portsmouth will not recognize any labor union or other employee association as a bargaining agent of any public officers or employees and will not collectively bargain or enter into any collective bargaining contract with any such union or association or its agents with respect to any matter relating to them or their employment or service. 2. That the City of Portsmouth remains committed to the fair and equitable treatment of all its employees.” Ayes: Barnes, Battle, Lucas-Burke, Woodard, Glover Nays: Moody, Whitaker b) Adoption of a resolution authorizing execution of the Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund and Settlement Allocation Memorandum of Understanding. Motion by Dr. Whitaker, and seconded by Ms. Lucas-Burke, to adopt the following resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: “RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF THE VIRGINIA OPIOID ABATEMENT FUND AND SETTLEMENT ALLOCATION MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. WHEREAS, in response to the opioid crisis the City of Portsmouth, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and numerous other localities and states throughout the nation filed suit against several entities engaged in the manufacture, marketing, promotion, distribution, and dispensing of opioids; and WHEREAS, virtually all the lawsuits were consolidated in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Ohio; and WHEREAS, global settlements have been negotiated with several defendants; and WHEREAS, under the settlements, it is estimated that the Commonwealth of Virginia will receive approximately $608,000,000 over 18 years; and WHEREAS, a portion of the settlement amount will be distributed by the Commonwealth to localities, including Portsmouth; and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has prepared an MOU called the “Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund and Settlement Allocation Memorandum of Understanding” which localities are required to execute to receive funding;