Nanticoke mayor says municipal building poses heath risk

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Nanticoke mayor says municipal building poses heath risk

Wilkes Barre Times-Leader - Wilkes Barre,PA*

Mold may close city hall

SHERRY LONG slong@...

http://www.timesleader.com/news/20080221_21Nanticoke_ART.html

NANTICOKE – Mayor Bushko called for the Municipal Building to

be closed immediately during Wednesday night's council meeting after

mold was found in the structure.

" We are jeopardizing the safety of all our employees, " he

said. " Everybody is at risk coming in this building. "

A home test kit detected the presence of " toxic " mold last fall in

the squad room of the Nanticoke Police Department, which is housed

in the basement of the municipal building.

Those test results and a memo from Nanticoke City Police Officers

Association Union Representative and police Capt. Grevera

dated Nov. 15, 2007, were sent to Bushko, City Administrator

, Councilman Joe Dougherty and Police Chief Chesinski.

In the memo, Grevera requested that a professional company be hired

to test the toxicity levels of mold in the building.

" Perhaps the quantities of mold in the air and air ducts are not

potentially hazardous, or perhaps they are. We need to have further

analysis as soon as possible to factually determine any potential

health risks, " the memo stated.

said the mold problem resulting from an accumulation of dust

in the vents was discovered about two years ago, but city

administrators never resolved it.

said he scheduled a contractor to clean the building's

ventilation system in the middle of January, but the company never

showed up.

There was no written agreement made with the company, whose name was

not readily available. The cleaning would have cost the city

slightly under $5,000, said.

Grevera stressed that while the vents do need to be cleaned, a

professional company must also be hired to test the toxicity level

of the mold, which can be carried through the duct system.

If the mold and ventilation systems are not adequately cleaned by

Monday, Bushko said he wants city hall closed.

" Let's just make arrangements to move everybody over to the fire

house or somewhere because I think the building has to be closed, "

Bushko said.

Some police department employees notice a difference in their

breathing when they report to work and some are being treated for

chronic sinus issues, Grevera said.

" Can you imagine working in a place where they don't even resolve

your basic health concerns? " he said.

" In the private sector Occupational Safety and Health Administration

would step in, but we don't have that luxury. "

Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.