MA. Inspection urged for leaky school

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Inspection urged for leaky school

By Gail Palmer

Eagle Correspondent

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/Stories/0,1413,101~7514~2847083,00.html

OTIS -- The town's health consultant has recommended that the

state's Division of Occupational Safety be asked to inspect

Farmington River Elementary School to address concerns about mold

growth and air quality.

In an April 7 report to the Board of Selectmen released last week,

J. Kolodziej of the Tri-Town Health Department said the

division's Occupational Hygiene/ Indoor Air Quality Program " has the

expertise necessary to provide a more detailed inspection report. "

Kolodziej inspected the school on March 25 at the request of the

Selectmen after several parents raised concerns about the existence

of mold and other potential hazards related to the failed roof at

the 6-year-old building.

Kolodziej's report cited leaks and staining in the kitchen and

dining areas and evidence of water leaking " in and around air

exchange/ceiling and adjacent cubby storage " in an early-childhood

classroom. Pails were being used to catch dripping water, he said.

He also noted evidence of leaks in the staging area, the music room

and adjacent practice room.

Observing that replacing the roof is a major undertaking that will

take considerable time, he recommended that preventive measures be

taken " to protect the public health and safety of the students,

teachers and staff. "

Among his recommendations are repair and elimination of leakage in

the school's kitchen area to prevent contamination of food, in

classrooms and other affected areas, and daily cleaning and

disinfecting of those areas.

When requested, the air quality program, based in West Newton, will

conduct an inspection of private and public buildings and measure

air quality, and may test samples of air and chemicals in an AIHA-

accredited laboratory.

A written report of findings and recommendations is provided.

A mold-remediation project was undertaken by school administrators

and funded by their insurance company within the past year, but

Kolodziej has said that mold will reoccur whenever moisture is

present. And his April 7 report stated that " the leaking roof is

affecting a substantial part of the school and by all accounts

getting worse. "

The Selectmen in Otis and Sandisfield, the towns served by the

Farmington River School District, have said that they were unaware

of the problem with the roof until the current school year.

But documents released recently by school officials, at the request

of the Selectmen, chronicle a problem that dates back to 1998, the

year that construction was completed, as well as to efforts by the

general contractor, the project architect and the roofing

subcontractor to shift blame to one another.

On March 7, 2000, Margo of Margo Architects in

Greenfield wrote in a letter to Fontaine Brothers of Springfield,

the general contractor, that " the roof has not experienced one

completely dry year. " In a subsequent letter to J.D. Rivet Co. of

Indian Orchard, the roofing subcontractor, Fontaine Brothers project

engineer L. Kline, documents leaks and related damage to

Sheetrock walls and ceilings.

In the March 30, 2000, letter, Kline proposed a meeting at the

school " to hopefully cure these roof problems that have annoyed

everyone for the last two years. "

Voters from Sandisfield and Otis, when they attend their respective

town meetings this month, will be asked to approve an article

authorizing the expenditure of $43,000 for preliminary engineering,

design and legal expenses in connection with the roof replacement

project.

The total cost is unknown, but town officials' estimates have ranged

from $250,000 to $800,000 or more.

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Gail Palmer can be reached at concierg@... or by phone at 269-

6107.