Youngstown's lead-free rental initiative praised

YOUNGSTOWN — The success of the local lead-free home initiative has received praise and help from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Youngstown is the only major Ohio city to implement such a private/public program, which is funded by The Raymond John Wean Foundation and city of Youngs-town, said Matthew Stefanak, commissioner of the Mahoning County District Board of Health.

Traditionally, legal action against owners of rental properties with dangerous lead levels involves the threat of criminal misdemeanor prosecution in the lower municipal court resulting in a fine.

But the Youngstown plan, led by the Mahoning County Family and Children First Council, is an approach that threatens property loss through civil charges in common pleas court if an owner fails to remediate lead hazards.

Specifically, violators are charged under the Youngstown Board of Health’s lead-poisoning-prevention regulation, and enforcement is done through a state nuisance statute that can be used to enforce local regulations, health officials said.

For the complete story, see Sunday's Vindicator and Vindy.com