By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

The Town of Berlin is kicking off a new program this fall that will help people who are in recovery from substance abuse disorders find employment opportunities.

At its meeting on Monday, Sept. 8, the Town Council approved a partnership with the recovery center

and non-profit Hope4Recovery and Worcester Goes Purple, an organization that supports healthy lifestyles, to create RecoveryWorks Berlin: Opioid Recovery Through Employment Program.

According to Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall, the municipality is seeking one to two part-time workers this autumn who are in the process of rehabilitating their lives.

The positions will be paid for by the Opioid Restitution Fund, established with money received through prescription opioid-related legal action. According to a memo to the mayor and council from Sara Gorfinkel, the mayor’s executive assistant, $20,000 is available, with access to over $30,000 in additional funds to apply to the recovery program. The money will be used to cover training, wages, supervision and administrative costs.

Tyndall said the intent is that the endeavor will be long-lasting, and that the financial assistance for the project is “not something [the town] is anticipating drying up.

“It is a recurring revenue stream from the Opioid Restitution Fund that should continue for many years down the road,” the mayor said. “We’re not going to start this program and then have funding dry up. And, if needed, we can apply for more grant funding.”

The program aims to help people who have employment gaps on their resumes that prevent them from securing meaningful work. Berlin’s initiative will bridge those lapses. The hope is that the part-time job will lead to full-time roles with either the municipality or another employer.

“The funding has to be used in a way that leads to something that helps recovery,” Tyndall said. “We tried to think about the best way to do that, and what we settled on is a program in partnership with Hope4Recovery and Worcester Goes Purple that allows the town to work with those organizations to help folks that are in recovery toward getting employment on their resume that hopefully springboards into something that further allows them to reenter the work force and do well in their lives. We want to be helpful in that approach.”

The town jobs will likely be with the public works department. The individuals hired will assist department personnel with activities such as events, setting up and breaking down equipment and supporting beautification efforts downtown, including watering, weeding and park maintenance.

According to Gorfinkel’s memo to the council, to be eligible, applicants must be enrolled and in good standing with a recognized recovery program and cannot have a history of violent offenses.

Treatment facilities will vet the applicants. From there, they will undergo the normal hiring process with the Town of Berlin. Furthermore, a standard job description will be created outlining responsibilities and education requirements. The post would not be released to the public, but instead would be sent to the recovery centers, which would screen potential candidates.

Tyndall said town staff are working out the details of what they would expect in this type of role, but hope to get the program started within the next few weeks.

The recovery project would cement Berlin as a safe space for those seeking treatment from addiction, town officials said.

“There’s a whole movement,” Gorfinkel said. “Other parts of the state are already engaged in a recovery-friendly workplace movement, and now Berlin would be able to be the first place on the Eastern Shore that is moving in that direction as well. The Town of Berlin is becoming a recovery-friendly workplace … it’s just a really great feather in the cap for the Town of Berlin.”

The motion to approve the memorandum of understanding between the town and Hope4Recovery and Worcester Goes Purple for RecoveryWorks passed easily, with Council members Steve Green, Shaneka Nichols and Jay Knerr voting for it. Councilman Jack Orris abstained due to being employed by the health department and Councilman Dean Burrell was absent.

“I think [RecoveryWorks] has the potential to be a win-win for everyone, the Town of Berlin, your organization and the folks that are looking for a new beginning,” Green told Gorfinkel. “From a humanitarian perspective, this checks all the boxes.”