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Health district makes corrections
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown City Health District has taken corrective actions demanded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development after an audit.
HUD had questioned $45,000 in expenditures.
The city health department, however, provided evidence the money was properly spent, said Erin Bishop, acting health commissioner, in her report Monday to the board of health.
Bishop said HUD gave verbal approval of the health depart-ment’s explanation of the expenditure in a recent conference call; no payback is required, and the department will continue receiving HUD funding.
“We are clear and able to move forward,” she said.
In other action, the board approved several contracts and expenditures for services.
They include Dental Sealant Program, ValleyCare Northside Medical Center, $3,000; Immunization Action Plan Grant, Mahoning County District Board of Health, $25,000; Sexually Transmitted Disease and HIV/AIDS Prevention programs, Canton Health Department, Nursing Division, both for a three-month period not to exceed a combined $13,750; and approval of $50,000 for equipment for the Air Pollution Division.
The board approved hiring Nathan Bell as a Control Technician II in Air Pollution Control; and Estrella Garriga, as a part-time clerk in the city’s nursing division.
The health board also discussed whether to continue contracting for rodent and mosquito control or to create a permanent position to handle those and other duties. A decision was postponed pending further study.
Bishop reported the Youngstown Office of Minority Health and Youngstown City Health District kicked off its 2012 Minority Health Month activities Saturday with a Public Health Day at the department.
Felicia Alexander, director for the Youngstown Office of Minority Health, reported that Mary Isa Garayua recently received the Shero Award presented by the Ohio Commission on Minority Health every other year.
Garayua retired as executive director of the Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana. She has been leader of OCCHA, the city’s primary social-service agency to aid area Latinos, for more than 15 years.