The fate of $15 million – Ocean County’s share of settlement payouts from the nationwide opioid litigation brought against opioid distributors and manufacturers – rests in the hands of a select number of people, and the public’s help is sought to review and evaluate incoming proposals from organizations vying for the money.

A body called the Ocean County Opioid Advisory Council was empaneled by the Ocean County Board of Commissioners last year to direct and oversee the distribution of the funds,…