Committee forwards $50,000 subcontract with Together Place for overdose response to full council

City public health staff asked the Government Operations Committee to authorize a subcontract with Together Place, a peer-run recovery center, to support the city’s overdose response team using up to $50,000 from Maine’s overdose response pilot grant.

Jennifer Gunderman, director of Bangor Public Health and Community Services, said the subcontract would fund a Together Place staff member who is part of the overdose response team. "This in front of you now is to go into a subcontract with Together Place to actually employ one of the people that's part of that overdose response team," Gunderman said, describing the longtime relationship between the department and community partners.

Councilors asked about fiscal oversight and reporting. One councilor said the council has in the past lacked clear follow‑up on grants. Gunderman responded that the department’s funding comes with strict fiscal and programmatic reporting requirements tied to Maine Department of Health and Human Services grants and that subcontractors must report to the city. She also said an overdose-response coordinator sits in the department to provide oversight.

Committee members voted to move the order to the full council; staff confirmed the item will appear on the Feb. 9 full council agenda for final approval.