Millburn Township

Summary

Millburn Township, Essex County, reported receiving 128,485.95 in opioid settlement money from 2022 through 06/30/2026. The national settlements list abatement uses such as treatment, recovery, connection to care, prevention and harm reduction. The list is not exhaustive. Other documented, evidence-based programs that address the epidemic also qualify. The money must add to existing spending, not replace it.

The Township keeps the money in a Reserve for Opioid Settlement Funds account for each budget year, 4-01-55-006-007-029, 5-01-55-006-007-029 and 6-01-55-006-007-029, and a grant line, 5-01-41-775-000-301. Its ledger prints show 20 payment lines from 04/16/2024 to 05/19/2026, 103,614.15 in all, and no open order. This project classifies 55,707.30 of the payments as non-conforming, 17,606.85 as unverified and 30,300.00 as conforming.

The FY2026 report's spending figure ties to the books to the cent. Its label for the largest purchase does not describe it. The FY2024 and FY2025 reports count the same spending twice. Read the Township's findings.

What the Township told the State

The FY2023 report covers the period to 06/30/2023. It certifies 31,171.95 received and nothing spent. It says the Township "plans to direct the funds towards education initiatives at our various schools." Its one program, Education, targets K-12 students.

The FY2024 report certifies 47,849.76 received in the year and 79,021.71 since 2022. It describes the Middle School Assembly as a Stephen Hill presentation by Hill Speaks LLC for 200 participants. It describes the handouts program as "Education Handouts and Pamphlets distributed," recipient Millburn Schools, with a launch date of 07/16/2024.

The FY2025 report certifies 31,793.99 received in the year and 110,815.70 since 2022. It answers No when asked whether the Township funded any new programs. Its one program entry is an update to the 2023 Education program at 34,268.10, explained as "Additional programs," with 2 training or education sessions.

The FY2026 report certifies 17,670.25 received in the year and 128,485.95 since 2022. It gives the year's goals as "Continuing to provide education and awareness to the public, specifically the youth. Equip first responders and township personnel to meet opioid abatement goals." It certifies 69,346.05 spent, 0.00 encumbered and 17,040.10 unspent on hand.

The CPR machines

Purchase order 26-00428 to Stryker Sales LLC is dated 02/10/2026 and ships to the Fire Department at 459 Essex Street. Every line is charged to the reserve account 5-01-55-006-007-029. Check 9522 paid it on 04/07/2026. The check stub describes the order as "LUCAS CPR System & Accessories."

Stryker's invoices bill and ship to the Millburn Fire Department. The order line calls the service contract "LUCAS Procare exp 2029." Stryker's invoice for it gives a coverage period of 02/23/2026 to 02/22/2031.

The FY2026 report lists a new program named Equipment Purchases at 55,707.30 funded and spent. The recipient is the Millburn Fire Department. The purpose is "Equip First Responders for opioid abatement." The primary category is Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention, and the Schedule B strategy is First Responders. The report says 50 individuals were served. Asked how the program addresses opioid use disorder through evidence-based practice, it answers "Equipment for first responders." Its one key performance indicator is "Reduction in opioid-related incidents: 0."

The certified figure equals check 9522 to the cent. The program name does not say what was bought. Exhibit E's First Responders category adds two uses to the first-responder items in sections C, D and H: education about fentanyl and other drugs, and wellness services for first responders. No overdose program using the devices is documented, and no listed use in C, D, H or I covers mechanical CPR devices. Certified fire department CPR machines as harm reduction.

The order's state contract field is blank. No quote, cooperative purchasing contract or service agreement was produced. The Township's Stryker vendor report covers payments from 01/01/2026 only, so the record does not show what the Fire Department bought from Stryker before then, or from which accounts.

The same spending in two reports

The settlement accounts made five payments through 06/30/2025.

The FY2024 report covers 07/01/2023 to 06/30/2024. It certifies 7,831.70 spent, the first two payments. The handouts check was written on 07/16/2024, after that period closed. The report itself gives 07/16/2024 as the handouts program's launch date. It certifies the program at 4,781.76, 0.06 more than the check.

The FY2025 report covers 07/01/2024 to 06/30/2025. It certifies 34,268.10 spent, every payment in the table, both FY2024 payments included. The accounts paid 31,218.10 in that period.

Two reports count the same 7,831.70 of spending.

The unspent balances follow from the certified totals. The FY2025 report's 68,715.90 is 110,815.70 received less 7,831.70 and 34,268.10. The FY2026 report's 17,040.10 is 128,485.95 received less 7,831.70, 34,268.10 and 69,346.05. Payments through 06/30/2026 total 103,614.15. The receipts the reports state, less those payments, leave 76,547.60 at 06/30/2025 and 24,871.80 at 06/30/2026. Each certified balance is 7,831.70 lower. Unspent figures carry the 7,831.70 double count.

The Fire Department course

Purchase order 25-00319 to ZSchool, LLC is dated 02/03/2025 and ships to the Fire Department. It buys 47 seats at 450.00, 21,150.00. Check 6319 paid it on 04/01/2025. The invoice, INV-000724, is printed on Seton Hall University Stillman School of Business letterhead and bills the Millburn Fire Department. It names the course as the certificate program Operational Readiness for First Responders, Practical Strategies for Addressing Opioid Use Disorder and Co-occurring Conditions. It asks for the check to be made payable to ZSchool, LLC. It says the list of 47 enrolled participants is attached. The list was not produced.

Training first responders on opioid use disorder is among the uses Exhibit E lists, and this project classes the payment as conforming. The FY2025 report counts it inside its update to the 2023 Education program. The FY2023 report described that program as education for K-12 students.

Other purchases

Hill Speaks LLC was paid 3,050.00 a year for a student assembly in 2024, 2025 and 2026, 9,150.00 in all. The FY2024 report describes the speaker as a person in recovery who speaks on substance use prevention. This project classes the assemblies as conforming.

Creative Wonders was paid 12,812.85 on three orders. The first two, 4,781.70 and 2,236.40, are described as opioid grant handouts and items. The third, 5,794.75 on check 7795 of 10/07/2025, bought Millburn Police Department branded water bottles, mesh bags, journals and logo screens, with freight. It was paid from the grant line and moved to the reserve account by journal on 12/01/2025. No handout or distribution record was produced for any of the three. This project classes them as unverified.

The Township's Creative Wonders vendor report covers payments from 01/01/2026 to 09/18/2026. In that time the Township paid the same vendor 15,205.60 from other accounts. They are police uniforms, police National Night Out, the police Community Service Unit, fire personnel training, celebrations and a Reserve for DARE account. The report does not reach back before 2026.

Innocorp, Ltd was paid 4,794.00 on check 8172 of 11/12/2025 for "Fatal Vision/Opioid Products." The invoice was not produced, so the record does not show what was bought. This project classes it as unverified.

The FY2026 report's Education update certifies 10,588.75. That is the police branded order, 5,794.75, and the Innocorp order, 4,794.00, to the cent.

Where the money went

What should happen

This is the project's view. The 55,707.30 paid for two CPR machines and their service contract was certified to the State under a harm reduction label the purchase does not fit. The Township can restore that money to the fund and spend it on a listed use or a documented abatement program.

The State relies on these reports to verify compliance. The Department of Human Services should examine the FY2024, FY2025 and FY2026 reports and the records behind them.

How this project classifies spending is set out in the methodology and the rubric. Corrections follow the corrections policy.