Environmental health director takes buyout

The city health department received grants for its dental sealant and HIV prevention programs.

YOUNGSTOWN — Robert G. Hewitt, director of environmental health, has accepted a two-year buyout offered by the city and resigned effective Feb. 29.

In his letter of resignation to the Youngstown City District Board of Health, Hewitt said he is leaving with “mixed feelings ... because I feel that there is still much work to be done in public health in Youngstown.”

Hewitt, who has been with the department for 32 years, said he is “proud of the accomplishments we have shared, and proud of the people I have worked with, both employees and board of health members.”

Hewitt’s resignation, accepted Monday by the board at its meeting, adds to the list of staff members who have accepted the city’s buyout offer and retired. Others are three from the Air Pollution Department: Larry Himes, administrator; Carol Baker, secretary; and John Scrip, staff engineer.

In other action, the board accepted 2008 Ohio Department of Health grants of $30,000 and $300,602, respectively, for the local dental sealant and HIV prevention programs.

The board also awarded dental sealant program support service contracts to Erin Scarnecchia of Poland, billing clerk, $2,000; Tiffany S. Canaveral of Youngstown, dental assistant, $8,383; and Jacqueline Cannatti of Poland, program coordinator/dental hygienist, $28,719.

The grant does not cover the entire cost of the program, and it is anticipated reimbursement from Medicaid and insurance will make up the difference, health officials said.

The HIV Program support service contracts were awarded to the Trumbull County Area AIDS Task Force, $19,223; Meridian Services of Youngstown, $36,555; and the Associated Neighborhood Centers of Youngstown, the Warren City Health Department, and the Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana of Youngstown, $7,811 each.

The remainder of the HIV grant is used for services provided by the Youngstown City Health District, which include tracking and notification of partners, community education, and AIDS testing.