Housing Authority addresses mold

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http://www.townonline.com/belmont/news/local_regional/bch_covbhhousing07162003.htm

Housing Authority addresses mold By Schinella / Staff Writer Wednesday, July 16, 2003

Addressing years of complaints by tenants at the Waverley Oaks Apartments about mold in their storage area, the Belmont Housing Authority decided Monday to take steps to alleviate the problems. With the help of Health Director Donna Moultrup, the Housing Authority decided to clean each storage unit as it becomes vacated by tenants. Starting in August, Housing Authority maintenance staff will start to completely clean out the area. They will also investigate acquiring temporary plastic bins where tenants can store their belongings during the cleanup. The authority will look into purchasing an industrial-sized dehumidifier to keep the area free of mold in the future. The storage units are described as 4-foot by 4-foot closet-sized units. Normally, as a tenant moves out, the units are cleaned and repainted, according to Housing Director Donna Hamilton. But over the years, due to lack of proper ventilation, the area has become a magnet for mold and tenants have complained about the problem. Members of the committee worried about inconveniencing tenants as the cleaning procedure commences, and discussed how this problem could be alleviated. "This situation is something we are all concerned with," said , chairman of the Housing Authority, "[but] we also have to deal with tenant rights. We can't go in and take everything out. We need a solution everyone can live with - with all the units cleaned and sealed." Housing Authority member Leo Saidnawey confirmed the state Department of Housing and Community Development would work with the authority to make sure the regulations were met to "the letter of the law." "I don't see how we can fail," Saidnawey said. "The tenants have to accept the fact that there is a problem. If the [mold] is that bad of an issue, as landlords, we're obligated to [clean] it." Moultrup said she would make the case to tenants that the area had to be cleaned up, even though it might be bothersome for a short time. "Given what's [known] out there about mold, I don't foresee a problem," she said. "I am going to order the whole place to be done. I think it's really important to have the approval of the tenants; informing them that there is a health issue. There are ways you can get their cooperation." Saidnawey suggested a meeting be held with the Board of Health to weigh the options. Hamilton suggested possible areas around the Waverley Oaks development where items could be temporarily stored, such as the laundry room. Board member Chemelli suggested a shed at the facility could also be used. "This is for [the tenant's] benefit," Chemelli said. Sallye Bleiberg pointed out that after the area has been cleaned up, tenants may still have moldy items in their storage areas that they want to keep, such as books and important personal papers. She said any temporary storage bins would need to be secured tightly so that mold spores did not get loose. "If what we do doesn't work, we'll have to do it all over again," she said. Members of the Housing Authority are scheduled to attend the Board of Health meeting on Wednesday, July 23 to finalize the cleanup plans.