Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Agenda Item # 3





Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting



March 6, 2007



Agenda Report # 107





TO: Mayor and Councilors



SUBJECT: Columbus Department of Public Health MOU



INITIATED BY: Department of Community Reinvestment





Recommendation: Approval is requested to enter into a Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU) with the Columbus Department of Public Health to provide

lead-based paint testing and risk assessment for the Columbus Consolidated

Government?s Home programs as required by the lead safe housing rule.



Background: HUD Regulation 24 CFR part 35, requires that any home receiving

Federal assistance be tested and a risk assessment performed for Lead Base

Paint. This testing and assessment must be performed on any home that was

built prior to 1978. As part of the City?s Homeowner Rehabilitation Program,

we provide funding for homes that were built prior to 1978. If the testing

identifies any areas of lead base paint to be disturbed, the City will contract

with a certified lead base paint contractor to remove the paint.



Analysis: The City contacted other jurisdictions within the state to

determine how they were performing the required Lead Base Paint testing.

Several of the jurisdictions were working in conjunction with their local

health departments. The City contacted the Columbus Department of Public

Health to discuss the possibility of partnering in the testing. The Health

Department was very receptive to the idea in that they have the required

equipment, staff and training to perform the testing. In performing the

testing for the City, the Health Department would be able to use the training,

equipment and be able to maintain their certification.



The MOU was developed to lay out the policies and procedures for the testing

and risk assessment. The Department of Community Reinvestment staff will

provide the Health Department with a proposed work write-up for the

rehabilitation. The Health Department will perform the testing and risk

assessment. If any lead base paint is identified, the City will contract with

a certified contractor to remove the paint. Upon removal of the paint, the

Health Department will retest and provide a clearance letter. The City

anticipates the Health Department performing approximately 15 to 20 test and

risk assessments per year.



Financial Considerations: There will be no impact on the operating budget.

The testing and risk assessments will be funded form HOME and CDBG funds.

Staff will also seek out Lead Base Paint grant opportunities to fund the

testing and/or abatement. The approximate cost of the testing and risk

assessments will be $25,000.



Recommendations: Approve a resolution authorizing to enter into a Memorandum

of Understanding (MOU) with the Columbus Department of Public Health to provide

lead-based paint testing and risk assessment for the Columbus Consolidated

Government?s Home programs as required by the lead safe housing rule.









MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

BETWEEN

THE COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT AND

THE COLUMBUS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH





This Memorandum of Understanding sets forth the general agreements and

understandings by and between the COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT (hereinafter

called CCG) and the COLUMBUS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (hereinafter called

HEALTH DEPT.), regarding a working relationship for the purpose of providing

certified documentation of lead-based paint testing and risk assessment in a

manner required by the Lead Safe Housing Rule, this ______ day of ___________,

2007.



WHEREAS the CCG receives Federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program Grants

(hereinafter called HOME) funds for the purpose of providing safe, sanitary and

accessible rehabilitation of owner-occupied homes of elderly and disabled

citizens and citizens of low to very low income; and



WHEREAS the CCG desires to proceed in a manner in compliance with 64 FR

50139-50231, Requirements for Notification, Evaluation and Reduction of

Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Federally Owned Residential Property and Housing

Receiving Federal Assistance, and 24 CFR part 35; and



WHEREAS the HEALTH DEPT. maintains on staff professional personnel certified

in Lead-Based Paint Inspection and Risk Assessment.



NOW, THEREFORE, the CCG and HEALTH DEPT. agree as follows:



ARTICLE I

SCOPE OF SERVICES



This is an annual agreement. The HEALTH DEPT. shall perform the following tasks

within the time specified in this annual Agreement:



TASK 1: CCG will provide to the HEALTH DEPT. a written Scope-of-Work Report

identifying all areas of potential lead-based paint in and around a specific

dwelling that will be disturbed by rehabilitation/repair including the areas

the CCG identifies as being areas that require testing under HUD guidelines for

the project



TASK 2: Within 15 business days from written Notification to Proceed with

Inspection, the HEALTH DEPT. will conduct a Summary Paint Testing Report [CFR

35.930 (a)]. CCG agrees to pay the HEALTH DEPT. the sum of $350.00 for each

dwelling tested. A copy of the resulting report will be provided to the

Community Reinvestment Department of CCG.



TASK 3: In cases determined by the LBP Inspector to require laboratory tests to

confirm LBP hazards, the HEALTH DEPT. shall submit to CCG by written invoice

all charges for such tests.



TASK 4: Within 15 business days from written Notification to Proceed with Risk

Assessment, the HEALTH DEPT. shall provide a Risk Assessment Report

[35.9309(c)(2)] for all dwellings receiving more than $5,000.00 of

rehabilitation assistance. CCG agrees to pay the HEALTH DEPT. the sum of

$500.00 for each dwelling inspected. A copy of the resulting Risk Assessment

Report will be provided to the Community Reinvestment Department of CCG.



TASK 5: Upon completion of rehabilitation and repair, CCG will provide written

Notification to Proceed with Clearance of Worksite. The HEALTH DEPT. shall

conduct the required Clearance of Worksite Report [35.930(b)(3)]. CCG agrees to

pay the HEALTH DEPT. the sum of $200.00 for each required clearance. The HEALTH

DEPT. will provide CCG with a copy of the clearance indicating a clearance

examination was completed at the site. A failed clearance inspection by the

removal agent will require an additional clearance inspection until the site

meets appropriate standards. Each subsequent clearance test will be considered

a new evaluation.



ARTICLE II

AUTHORIZATION



CCG and the HEALTH DEPT. will each appoint a person or persons to serve as the

official contact and coordinate the organizations activities in carrying out

this Memorandum of Understanding.



By signing here, CCG and the HEALTH DEPT. acknowledge that they are aware of

their obligation to comply with the terms of this Memorandum of Understanding.

The CCG assumes the responsibility for defining the scope?of-work and the areas

of the home that require lead inspection and/or evaluation based on HUD

Regulations. The HEALTH DEPT. further acknowledges that they are aware of their

obligation to comply with the rules and regulations of LSHR and 24 CFR part 35

policies and procedures.



This Agreement shall be effective as of the _____day of February 2007 and shall

continue until June 30, 2007 renewing on an annual basis of July 1-June 30 of

each year, unless terminated by either party, with or without cause, giving to

the other party a minimum of (60) days written notice of such party?s intention

to terminate.



COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT COLUMBUS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH





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