Stoughton fire chief hoping for state aid to fix fire station mold problem

[Guest guest]

The $1.3 million fire station, built in 2001, has been empty of

all but two ranking firefighters since Sept. 11, 2007, because of a mold

problem.

By Allan Stein

ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT

Posted Jun 06, 2008 @ 02:29 AM

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STOUGHTON —

Fire Chief Jardin said he is pinning his hopes on the state coming

through with $750,000 to repair fire department headquarters on Central Street.

“I’ve got my fingers crossed. We’ll see what happens,” Jardin said.

Town meeting representatives last week rejected Jardin’s call for $750,000

to fix inadequate heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems at the main

fire station. The article needed a two-thirds majority to pass.

Jardin said the department’s recent effort to attach legal liability to

building contractors for inadequate design of heating and air conditioning units

failed, since the companies no longer exist. One contractor went out of business

when it defaulted on a $2.6 million bank loan, Jardin said.

The $1.3 million fire station, built in 2001, has been empty of all but two

ranking firefighters, Jardin and Deputy Chief Mark Dolloff, since Sept. 11,

2007, when Jardin transferred his staff to the department’s substation on

Freeman Street.

The inadequate ventilation has produced a proliferation of mold spores

throughout the main station. Fire officials believe the situation is unhealthy

and a source of respiratory ailments.

Jardin said state officials will lobby in support of a bill to include the

$750,000 in the governor’s fiscal 2009 supplemental budget. If that fails,

Jardin said the funding request will be revisited next year at town meeting.

He said the town presently cannot sell the building in its “broken” state.

It remains underutilized, and there is no further legal recourse against the

builders and designers.

“It’s discouraging,” Jardin said.

Town Manager Mark S. Stankiewicz echoed Jardin’s view, saying the town’s

options are limited.

Making matters worse, the building sits on contaminated soil that would

have to be cleaned up by the town before it could be sold, he said.

“I don’t think we can demolish the building as the best move either. Either

way you look at it, it’s got to be fixed,” Stankiewicz said.

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