[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6299369,"mediaKeyId","2497251-ebdaa2d59b9c40ebdb9a2f29264484bb","parentId",2497251,"title","Danvers officials say opioid settlement funds are restricted, planning underway; DOR clarified later spending rules","audioSeconds",235,"startMs",4504000,"endMs",4739000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2497251-ebdaa2d59b9c40ebdb9a2f29264484bb&start=4504&end=4739","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2497251-ebdaa2d59b9c40ebdb9a2f29264484bb/thumbnail_4504000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299369/Town-of-Danvers/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Danvers-officials-say-opioid-settlement-funds-are-restricted-planning-underway-DOR-clarified-later-spending-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299369-061f0143a8b644fa8187c2006976edab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448645&Signature=VXpykZHeBoPhmQyxzWXq9pnN6Mxnacocm9oux~pAqAqq09WxgcSKNSp8h-LMSkeMKxz05Uh8P~HDbxqPhT29TOBpxoXt3yAx1pib6G7C65bL-kjHy-Tuq91A0XfPkd1MMrbekXaJsP3op7VH~Q~ibFKMLYIzFOPJOF7TKLLYQ9Ch-AdcymDMKTq-M1-oBMOJHG~LTQJOLRaex2iCh6LHu6-QIGenVtA-2Ha93N3svti3amGnSpq9HGQkt0YB06BnoqR42x4wUYqdT1D2Xxi-uhxD-z3YVrpQyzNmJSip36bv2gK-M93kcFN~K61ZtL2KlDoRgHWP3b2kDlui5Ml-2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Danvers, MA","date","2025-03-05T00:00:00Z","article","The town has received opioid-settlement funds tied to statewide settlements and is developing a multiyear plan for how to use the dollars, Town Manager Rodney told the Select Board Monday.

Rodney said the state attorney general’s settlements with distributors and manufacturers result in scheduled payments to municipalities; Danvers is slated to receive a total of $1.5 million through about 2038. \"To date, we have received $374,000,\" Rodney said, adding that health staff have been coordinating with Danvers Public Schools and public safety on spending plans. \"These funds do not go away. They're ours to use,\" he said, but added there are restrictions on eligible uses and the health director is coordinating with the state to define allowable expenditures.

Why it matters: Opioid-settlement dollars may fund prevention, treatment and harm-reduction programs but state guidance and restrictions shape how municipalities may apply the money. Danvers officials said they will prioritize eligible, sustainable programs and coordinate with town health staff, school leaders and public safety.

Details and next steps: The town has set up a segregated fund for opioid settlement revenue. Town staff held preliminary planning meetings with the health director, the public health nurse and school and public safety officials. Staff said the funds can be spent over many years and are not subject to an immediate town-meeting appropriation after recent Department of Revenue clarification; some initial purchases have been made, and the health director plans a fuller presentation to the board this spring. Town Manager Rodney said the town will include counsel and state contacts when confirming allowable uses and will consider partnerships with external organizations for service delivery when direct grants to individuals would be ineligible.

Board direction: The Select Board asked staff to bring a more detailed plan to a future meeting and to include town counsel when clarifying eligible uses with state officials.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Danvers: Select Board Meeting - 3/4/25","oneSentenceSummary","Town Manager and health staff are developing a long-term plan for opioid-settlement funds (total $1.5 million through 2038); the town has received $374,000 to date and staff report the funds are restricted and not \"use it or lose it.\"","taxTitle","Town of Danvers, Essex County, Massachusetts","taxId",56467,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299376,"Select Board lays out five private ways for town-meeting acceptance; vote moves streets to May town meeting",222,4040000,4262000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2497251-ebdaa2d59b9c40ebdb9a2f29264484bb&start=4040&end=4262","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2497251-ebdaa2d59b9c40ebdb9a2f29264484bb/thumbnail_4040000.jpg","/articles/6299376/Town-of-Danvers/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Select-Board-lays-out-five-private-ways-for-town-meeting-acceptance-vote-moves-streets-to-May-town-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299376-d5e6d53cca2e824926bef161a9e7389d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448645&Signature=AsnTUeqn~~-LH94c4lgtQHu3MZIjYxSHofw2mbXVtxMdNwllamas3fjIYZ5S9-3xIK-b5~2370uRameioXfGDCn5Px3wTshLJULZERsRTrO1CIy~FgI0G1raKUnd8mp2yTRvzU-5Z5pUhHw~yGNJvr-qhuLWyqIvWU-b-zH~uLhQjxN~7Vq522Q7gRu3hgEBo9-WiyGamclQt7bkwd2GjJaXsgwBUdOnwOn5gaeTpT~oFBqaFeLf50dwNElKluWDgOBfX-FgoBhEq5r0gphB1-BgpGA-gQdBMqKmqAbP5NLPYnr3395f5XtvIhWH9xvE-ZDn3EjQLrFcGGsEAdYUzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Following a public hearing held under Chapter 82, the Select Board Monday voted to lay out five previously private ways and to recommend their acceptance as public ways at the town’s May 25 annual meeting.

Town Engineer Stephen King presented the request and described the statutory process: the board lays out and recommends streets for acceptance; town meeting must then appropriate and authorize the Select Board to take the ways; the town will record the order of taking with the registry of deeds after permanent acceptance. King said the work restores the roadways to public way status and adds mileage eligible for chapter 90 paving funds.

The five streets named in the motion were Hunt Street, Crane Street, Franklin Street, Chatham Lane and Collentoni Drive. King said Chatham Lane and Collentoni Drive were constructed after the subdivision control law’s effective date and retain performance bonds; the other streets predate the subdivision law and already receive municipal services such as plowing and trash pickup.

Board action: A motion to lay out the five streets and recommend acceptance at the May 25 annual town meeting carried unanimously (Aye, none opposed). The motion directs the town to complete the formal order-of-taking and recording process if town meeting approves the acceptances. Select Board members thanked staff — including Renee Hunter in the town engineer’s office — for their work on the longstanding program.

Why it matters: Laying out and accepting private ways transfers maintenance responsibility and right-of-way control to the town, allows the road mileage to count for state chapter 90 reimbursement for paving and clarifies municipal responsibility for future repairs.

What’s next: If town meeting votes to accept the streets on May 25, the town will return to the Select Board in summer to execute the order of taking, record the order with the registry of deeds and integrate the streets into the town’s paving program.

","After a public hearing, the Select Board voted unanimously to lay out Hunt Street, Crane Street, Franklin Street, Chatham Lane and Collentoni Drive as public ways and will recommend acceptance at the May 25 annual town meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299380,"Independent auditor gives Danvers a clean opinion on FY2024 financial statements; flags pension and OPEB as significant estimates",2686,1350000,4036000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2497251-ebdaa2d59b9c40ebdb9a2f29264484bb&start=1350&end=4036","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2497251-ebdaa2d59b9c40ebdb9a2f29264484bb/thumbnail_1350000.jpg","/articles/6299380/Town-of-Danvers/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Independent-auditor-gives-Danvers-a-clean-opinion-on-FY2024-financial-statements-flags-pension-and-OPEB-as-significant-estimates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299380-91c67e249b4c2f9ddce51483e843fb67/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448645&Signature=fJhWx0R-L~awP209dqVIg3fJ3sg8UYAIRZ6UmCmA1ZhP~yklNagNU~PHfSzqXwVQg6CT5dOpaLHPB8vrYwe6GDsiWFxRhGOgSUU3o-3-RhZaLV6VmQ8onsuoOeKqKlh5BbVcsjCviSQPvg3zlTls653pYQqUBdv~3RryT5H7SR~3Uss68xY7y5ztzPUAvv8B95lL6s6oiWSQiKaBk1xsHNAapFS5e1zUgpuRrqf947MxtnyoO8OqVbR5CbR6yAt8Fu0IAsYm5KhqSTDPUjBycBImHPaYUgC5WVJZAt85MUwOXHoWmwfyGByK6iK57or~oHvSLcEQpnlcagKPv6ksUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The town’s independent auditor told the Select Board Monday that Danvers received an unmodified (clean) opinion on its FY2024 financial statements and walked the board through key balances and disclosures in the annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR).

Scott McIntyre, partner at Markham (now part of CBIZ), described the audit opinion as \"a clean audit opinion\" and said the governance letter identified management override of controls as a standard significant risk the firm must assess in every audit. McIntyre said auditors found Danvers’s internal control system \"well designed and effectively operating\" for the period audited.

Why it matters: The ACFR and auditor’s governance letter provide the board and residents with independent assurance about the town’s fiscal condition. McIntyre highlighted several items that typically draw attention from rating agencies and residents: the town’s net pension liability ($94.9 million measured at calendar-year 2023), net OPEB liability (about $122 million as of 6/30/24), and the general fund unassigned balance (about $21.9 million, or roughly 18% of general fund expenditures).

Key points from the presentation:
- Opinion and standards: The auditors issued an unmodified opinion after testing under U.S. generally accepted auditing standards and generally accepted government auditing standards. McIntyre noted auditors also reported non-audit services (assistance preparing the ACFR) in accordance with professional standards.
- Pension and OPEB: The net pension liability decreased from the prior year (driven by favorable 2023 investment returns) while net OPEB rose slightly due to actuarial experience changes. Danvers used a 7% discount rate for pension measurement (down from 7.25% the prior year).
- Fund balance and budget results: Total general fund balance was about $40.8 million; unassigned fund balance was $21.9 million (approximately 18% of expenditures). The auditors explained that a budgetary surplus (about $12.5 million in combined favorable revenues and unspent appropriations) largely funded capital appropriations at town meeting, increasing committed fund balance rather than producing a dollar-for-dollar increase in unassigned balance.
- ARPA and other liabilities: The audit shows $1,153,000 of unearned revenue in nonmajor governmental funds at 6/30/24, reflecting unspent ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds. McIntyre said that amount is recognized as revenue when spent. McIntyre also explained a capital-project deficit tied to a $4.5 million bond anticipation note for the landfill project; permanent financing will eliminate that timing-related deficit.
- Enterprise funds: McIntyre highlighted enterprise fund cash flows (water, sewer, and related funds) and said net cash provided by operations exceeded debt service in each enterprise, a metric noted by rating agencies.

Board discussion: Select Board members asked about the meaning of the management override risk, the treatment and status of ARPA funds and the composition of restricted net position (examples: water mitigation, childcare, student athletic fees). McIntyre said the management-override designation is a required audit risk and that auditors tested controls and transactions in response; he confirmed that the town’s ARPA balance had been largely spent by December (staff reported remaining accounting work to finalize). Town finance staff confirmed they will provide budget-season detail on restricted funds.

What’s next: The ACFR contains additional footnote disclosures and statistical schedules that the town will use for budgeting and capital planning. The Select Board and finance staff will review detailed fund activity during the FY2026 budget process.

","Markham/CBIZ partner Scott McIntyre presented highlights from the FY2024 audit and annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR), describing an unmodified opinion, increases in net pension and OPEB balances, fund balance growth and the accounting treatment for unspent ARPA funds and a landfill-related bond anticipation note.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299388,"Danvers consultant names three finalists for town manager; interviews set for March 12",1222,110000,1332000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2497251-ebdaa2d59b9c40ebdb9a2f29264484bb&start=110&end=1332","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2497251-ebdaa2d59b9c40ebdb9a2f29264484bb/thumbnail_110000.jpg","/articles/6299388/Town-of-Danvers/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Danvers-consultant-names-three-finalists-for-town-manager-interviews-set-for-March-12","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299388-633b8482c3927880a45d0ac7bb73e903/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448645&Signature=HdTmioxM1ebKC5VdOc-7D62nY7VlTuTorUIhkD7JnvtKJhJEGgzeHB2dCf0aXElmIXnqxdrC6NYKDDKp4yJnDVbr7F1fRhswkX6uhpZAfn6AUrQNlfyRm2Y4-~rRbj6H9cPC8mYlLfgT57BfQAJhhX6lQ1TJnZ7ZAqrgD3A9D4DFhAsRqniqw~zsC2xBOFlxX6AlwcmPQyREVMKwq7bjxAns5pCHum-zP4bR3G4oM5gmuubwOpH7dH4cMSUhRU2ATZnG6~asYF15l3pvzx065YndTkehpZXfqeDDbDjTpnASXCW57y9G7Hm0CAvNAAlld7uMC0UvlP8ShojrBGH5NA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A consultant hired to run Danvers’s town manager search presented three finalists to the Select Board Monday and confirmed the board will interview each candidate on March 12 at the DeAndre Senior Center.

Bernie Lynch, the executive search consultant engaged by the town, told the board his firm received 31 applications after outreach to state and national municipal associations, regional public administration programs and targeted candidate outreach. Lynch said a seven-member screening committee narrowed that pool to seven candidates and then to three finalists: Jill Cahill, the chief administrative officer in Gloucester; Sean Fitzgerald, former town administrator of Swampscott; and Patrice Garvin, town administrator in Belmont. \"We narrowed in after lengthy discussion and focusing on three candidates,\" Lynch said.

The board will hold one-hour interviews at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on March 12, Lynch said. He said interviews will be tape-delayed — the town will not broadcast the questions live — and that the board might make a selection the same night or postpone to March 18 if necessary. Lynch provided the board with cover letters, resumes, reference-check summaries and CORI checks on the finalists and offered to speak individually with board members before or after the interviews to help develop questions or provide additional background.

Why it matters: The town manager is the chief administrative officer and the selection will determine who implements policy, oversees municipal departments and leads budgeting and contract negotiations. Lynch said the screening emphasized candidates’ communication and consensus-building skills, experience with land-use issues, collective bargaining and municipal finance.

Supporting details: Lynch described the search outreach (Massachusetts Municipal Association, International City and County Management Association, regional graduate programs and networking at the MMA annual conference) and a candidate database the firm maintains. The screening committee — appointed by the board and chaired by Maureen Bernard — interviewed seven candidates over two days and assessed candidates on interest in Danvers, leadership style, communication and ability to build consensus on often-divisive land-use topics. Lynch said the finalists also were tested on personnel management, collective bargaining, capital financing and the candidate-board relationship.

Board comments: Select Board member Maureen Bernard thanked the subcommittee and encouraged residents to submit questions to the board secretary for possible use during interviews. Lynch said he will be available to assist with contract negotiation technical questions if the board names a finalist.

What’s next: Interviews are scheduled for March 12 at the DeAndre Senior Center; the board will decide whether to select a new town manager that evening or defer to a later date. If the board names a finalist, the board will determine who leads contract negotiations; Lynch offered to provide technical assistance in that phase.

","Executive search consultant Bernie Lynch presented three finalists for Danvers town manager — Jill Cahill, Sean Fitzgerald and Patrice Garvin — and the Select Board scheduled interviews March 12 at the DeAndre Senior Center with a tape-delayed broadcast planned.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Danvers officials say opioid settlement funds are restricted, planning underway; DOR clarified later spending rules

Select Board lays out five private ways for town-meeting acceptance; vote moves streets to May town meeting

Independent auditor gives Danvers a clean opinion on FY2024 financial statements; flags pension and OPEB as significant estimates

Danvers consultant names three finalists for town manager; interviews set for March 12