HEALTH Sugarman to head addiction outreach program

With a new position funded to in part help the town respond to the opiod crisis, local officials say they are eager for the work to begin.

Town Meeting approved on Tuesday a variety of budget changes that included providing about $48,000 for the new prevention and outreach program manager position for salary and expenses for the rest of the fiscal year.

The position, Selectmen Chairman Rick Jennett said on Wednesday, is designed to bring together different municipal departments and other people and organizations to stimulate discussions, find solutions and help families and victims coping with drug and alcohol addiction. The position, to be filled by Natick Together for Youth Executive Director Katie Sugarman, will have a focus on the opioid crisis, officials have said.

"The main focus of the Board of Selectmen is to create this position to allow us a central contact point to create collaboration between lots of different departments," Jennett said.

The board has been focused on the opioid crisis in recent months, including holding a community forum and forming a task force.

Cheryle Lucenta of SOAR (Supporting Our Addicts' Recovery) Natick said she is pleased to see the town taking the crisis seriously.

Lucenta said she's hopeful the new position will make a big difference.

"I'm thrilled that the town supports the position," said Lucenta, who has a family member in recovery from addiction. "That should really be a step in the right direction to help some families and individuals suffering with addiction. I'm hoping we can start to offer a place to go to learn and to find resources and information and get suggestions on how they can get help."

Town Meeting's budget changes had the net effect of reducing the fiscal 2017 budget by almost $500,000, thanks to health insurance costs coming in lower than projected. Town Meeting has to make another vote on an upcoming night to add the prevention and outreach program manager position to the pay plan, according to town documents.

—Brian Benson can be reached at 508-626-3964 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @bbensonmwdn.