Federal officials issue 'stop work order' for Milwaukee's efforts to reduce lead in homes

Federal officials have issued a "stop work order" for the City of Milwaukee's troubled program aimed at reducing lead hazards, mainly paint, in homes.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sent a letter to the Milwaukee Health Department on Monday calling on the city to immediately cease work funded by its Lead Hazard Reduction grant. HUD said the order was based on "issues identified" by a monitoring visit last week.

"During the visit, an exit conference was held with program staff and leadership; areas of concern were noted including issues with lead hazard control scopes of work in which owners are completing work that may be noncompliant and unsafe," the letter read.

The letter said the issues need to be "addressed immediately."

Mayor Tom Barrett and the Health Department had asked HUD to review the findings of a recent internal investigation detailing serious problems with the agency and its lead poisoning prevention efforts. The federal agency conducted a monitoring visit on Wednesday and Thursday, the letter said.

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"I'm very comfortable with the decision that they have made. I think it's very appropriate to do that," Barrett said. "I don't see this as a permanent stop order. This is an intermediate order that will allow us to recalibrate the program."

Barrett added that federal officials had some concerns about the scope of work that was being done when it came to trying to remove lead hazards from city homes.

"Our practice had been to focus on windows primarily," Barrett said. "They want us to focus on a larger area. And I'm very comfortable with what their suggestions are."

The Health Department said in a statement that city officials "agreed that a temporary pause will provide us with welcome support in improving the program.”

"As we take action on the recommendations issued in our own report, we will work closely with HUD to implement processes that will allow us to better respond to and help families prevent lead poisoning in our community," the statement said.

The Health Department has been without a leader since former commissioner Bevan Baker resigned last month as news broke that his department failed to follow up and provide services to the families of thousands of children who had tested positive for lead — or at least failed to document that work.

On a nearly unanimous vote, the Milwaukee Common Council picked Patricia McManus to lead the struggling agency last week.

Barrett has said he plans to meet with McManus this week, and has not yet decided whether to sign off on her appointment.