Lower tries to clear air in moldy Public Safety Bldg.

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http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/cape/012203LTSICKJ21.html January 22, 2003 Lower tries to clear the air in Public Safety Building By RICHARD DEGENER Staff Writer, (609) 463-6711, E-MailLOWER TOWNSHIP - Township officials found air-circulation problems at the Public Safety Building at the Cape May Airport, where some workers claimed last week that the air in the building was making them ill.Mayor Larry Starner said about eight vents that diffuse air had been blocked, some intentionally."There was no air moving, so it's no wonder they were getting sick," Starner said.Township Manager Kathy McPherson said that it remains to be seen whether an improved flow of air will solve the problems reported by some workers in the Municipal Court, which is one of several township operations in the building. McPherson said all vents were opened.McPherson on Tuesday said that one improvement called for in a 1998 state inspection of the building was never done. The state Public Employees Occupational and Health Program ran tests in the building in 1998 and found water coming into the building from a leaking roof. Some workers have since claimed leaks allowed toxic mold to grow."There is a ceiling leak in the front hallway due to the roof leak. We will fix the roof," McPherson said.Workers have claimed the building, which is located at the Cape May Airport, is causing respiratory illnesses and have petitioned Superior Court to require extensive environmental testing. The court is considering the request. The workers, meanwhile, have also filed a tort claims notice ensuring their right to file civil action in the future.McPherson said one problem identified several years ago appears to have been taken care of. The problem of outside air that sometimes included airplane exhaust, and in one case fumes from a roofing job, has reportedly been eliminated by a new filtering system, she said."As far as we know, the new filters have stopped that," McPherson said.The building hosts the courts, police, rescue squad and fire-safety offices. The township is currently looking into moving other operations to the spacious facility.The workers' complaints have at least established who owns the building. Township officials last week had claimed Cape May County owns the building. They said the county leases it to the township.The county has since researched the matter and found the building was sold to the township in 1993 for $100,000. At that time, the land on which the building sits was leased to the township by the county for $1 a year for 25 years. McPherson said the Delaware River and Bay Authority assumed control of the land in June 1999, when the bi-state agency took over airport operations.The eight court workers who petitioned Superior Court served papers to the township, the county, the DRBA and the state Attorney General's Office. Assistant County Counsel C. Porto argues that the county is not liable."They bought the building as is. (Former Mayor) Bob Conroy signed the agreement. Cape May County is held harmless and is indemnified. That is the position I took with the judge," Porto said.The building dates to World War II when the site hosted a U.S. Navy air base and the structure was reportedly used for storage. The building has caused problems for the township almost since the beginning, as the project to modernize it for township operations suffered numerous cost overruns.To e-mail Degener at The Press:RDegener@...