Merrimac: Testing finds mold in Town Hall boiler room

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Merrimac: Testing finds mold in Town Hall boiler room

Eagle Tribune - North Andover,MA*

Published: February 25, 2008

By Robin

Correspondent

http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_056055714.html

MERRIMAC — Town officials last week were given the results of Feb.

5's mold testing at Town Hall, the latest step taken by the Board of

Health and selectmen to respond to long-standing complaints of

respiratory problems from five employees in basement offices.

" The lab results are pretty clear that the fundamental problem is

that the boiler room is highly contaminated, " said Bachand of

Northeast Environmental Labs in Hampton, N.H.

Bachand tested samples of carpet and paper from the office of

Building Inspector Phil Hagopian, the area where employees have

experienced the most severe symptoms. He said that mold spores have

been blowing into the building inspector's offices.

" The strong suggestion is a full remediation and cleaning of that

space be conducted, " Bachand said. He recommended employing a

professional abatement company. " You are held to a higher standard "

in a public building with public employees, he told officials.

He suggested conducting another test after the cleaning, with

abatement and testing done by different groups.

Bachand believes that the heating, ventilation and air conditioning

system is not creating the environment for the existing mold. " The

problem is not necessarily air, it's moisture " coming in through the

walls and probably the floor, he said.

Board of Health Chairwoman Eileen Hurley asked if some molds are

more damaging than others. Bachand said that the species of mold

isn't important. Toxicity depends on the level and duration of

exposure.

He explained that mold species indicate whether high moisture

exists; he found elevated counts of high-moisture species in

Hagopian's office, which is evidence of large amounts of moisture in

that area.

The second issue of concern, according to Bachand, is the carpeting.

The test results from the sample in Hagopian's office indicated mold

contamination. " It's not dire, but it's something you should think

about, " he said. " The safest approach is to ultimately remove the

carpet in that space. "

Bachand also recommended a thorough commercial cleaning of surfaces

with antimicrobial agents beyond the usual cleaning.

Selectman Carol Traynor, who noted that she must watch expenses in

her capacity as selectman, wondered if it would " open us up for a

lawsuit " if the town implemented only some of the remedial actions.

She questioned to what extent abatement must be conducted when the

ill effects are felt by employees because of their individual

sensitivities.

Bachand reiterated, " You do have an obligation to provide a safe and

healthy work environment for your employees. "

Traynor agreed that the plan should be to remediate the boiler room

as a first step. " We're not going to sit on it. We're going to

continue, " she said.

Treasurer and Finance Director Carol McLeod agreed to try to obtain

estimates for boiler room cleaning in time for discussion at the

next selectmen's meeting.

The total cost for this mold testing and previous air sampling came

to $2,050, according to McLeod. " We weren't expecting an invoice

anywhere near what we got. "

She pointed out that the invoice amount was much higher than

Bachand's original estimate, that the mold testing had not been

authorized and that the mold testing provided similar results to the

air testing. Where the money is coming from to pay this invoice has

yet to be determined.