Campbell officials asked to deal with dirty house

By Jeanne Starmack

Animals removed from the house were euthanized or died on their own.

CAMPBELL — Neighbors of a house on Porter Avenue where authorities removed at least 15 animals in October have asked council for help in getting the house cleaned up.

The homeowner, Barbara Muscolo, was told in a letter dated Oct. 23 by the Mahoning County District Board of Health that she must clean up the property, which neighbors say is full of garbage bags.

Officials from Animal Charity and the board of health have told The Vindicator that the house was full of animal excrement as well.

Neighbors say they are concerned because a 12-year-old girl still lives in the house, along with her mother and an adult brother and sister.

Nicole Owen, executive director of Animal Charity, told The Vindicator in October that all the cats were wild and had to be euthanized, and the two dogs died while at the shelter.

Muscolo was notified she had until Nov. 17 to clean up the house. Board of Health Sanitarian Angelo Italiano told The Vindicator the Oct. 23 letter did not get into the family’s hands, so he taped it to the door Nov. 3. They had 15 days from that time to remove all the trash from the basement and garage, remove excrement and clean and remove contaminated surfaces.

Italiano also said Mahoning County Children Services were told about the 12-year-old, and a caseworker is assigned.

The city, meanwhile, provided a trash bin to the family for free through a deal with its waste hauler. The trash bin was eventually filled with trash and taken away Nov. 15.

But Muscolo requested an extension to finish the cleanup because she needed help lifting heavy items from the basement. The extension was up Wednesday, and, neighbors told council, Italiano gave another extension until Dec. 29.

“They said she’s having health problems, but making progress,” neighbor Rocky Yeropoli told The Vindicator before council’s Wednesday meeting.

But he and neighbor Pat Wilush questioned whether she should be left to clean up the house herself.

They said they’ve been dealing with the smell coming off the house for 12 years.

Lawmakers said they would contact Italiano and ask him to meet with them Monday evening to see if they can resolve the situation.