The Ulster County Health, Human Services, and Human Rights Committee on Aug. 7 approved Resolution 3 85 to accept and execute a New York State Department of Health grant to implement a rental-registry and lead-inspection program covering ZIP code 12401 (Kingston).
Deputy Director Tom Gibney told the committee the program is a new five-year initiative with a total grant allocation of $2.7 million ($558,200 per year) running April 2024 through March 2029. The state identified 4,221 dwellings in the target area that are pre-1980 and multi-family; the county expects to conduct approximately 1,407 inspections per year once inspections begin in November. The county has purchased three XRF machines and two vehicles and plans to create staff positions — three technician positions, one environmental health manager and one administrative aide — who will carry out inspections and interventions.
Gibney said the county will lend one XRF machine to the City of Kingston under a forthcoming memorandum of understanding to support inspections there; he clarified that the Department of Health will take the lead on interventions and inspections and that the city will be able to use one machine. When asked, Gibney said the rental-registry grant as presented is for inspections only; the county is working on a separate remediation grant to pay for mitigation work.
Legislator Glenseter (speaker identified by transcript as a building-inspector attendee) asked whether the city would receive funding to hire inspectors; Gibney said the county has not allocated grant money to the city to hire additional city inspectors but will lend an XRF machine and collaborate. Committee members voiced support and the resolution was adopted by voice vote.