Mold the topic at special board meeting Thursday

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Mold the topic at special board meeting Thursday

October 9, 2008

The Record*

BY TONY GICAS

CLIFTON JOURNAL

http://www.northjersey.com/news/northernnj/Mold_the_topic_at_special_

board_meeting.html

Clifton's Board of Education will hold a special public meeting at 5

p.m. Friday to discuss mold found on sheets of drywall slated to be

used in building the new high school annex.

Board members want to " take down and replace " the moldy drywall. A

vote is expected.

District Business Administrator Perkins said the construction

site at 290 Brighton Road housed the large supply of drywall for

more than two years in an unheated and non-air-conditioned

environment, which likely caused the mold.

Board member Traier estimated the amount of mold contamination

at less than 20 percent -- but with a cost of from $40,000 and

$45,000 to replace.

" The reason to expedite the process was that we have to pass a

change order, " he said. " We did not want to wait until the [Oct. 15]

board meeting. "

Board member Lizz Gagnon cited a series of delays that she said

resulted from 17 Zoning Board of Adjustment hearings taking place

over several months in 2005, multiple denials of the school board's

variance application, and several subsequent appeals.

Had things moved more smoothly, she said, the mold problem could've

been avoided.

Dots of mold were discovered by the contractor the last week of

September, Gagnon said, adding that it " only effects an office

area " of the prospective annex building.

The entire supply of drywall sheets dedicated to classroom

construction is mold resistant, she said.

" There's no other mold or contamination on the stud work, framing or

anything inside the walls, " she added.

" I feel for the taxpayers, " Gagnon added, " but we have to do it the

right way and I don't want this to be delayed anymore. "

The district would explore the possibility of reimbursement for the

lost materials through insurance, she said.

Gicas@... Clifton's Board of Education will hold a

special public meeting at 5 p.m. Friday to discuss mold found on

sheets of drywall slated to be used in building the new high school

annex.

Board members want to " take down and replace " the moldy drywall. A

vote is expected.

District Business Administrator Perkins said the construction

site at 290 Brighton Road housed the large supply of drywall for

more than two years in an unheated and non-air-conditioned

environment, which likely caused the mold.

Board member Traier estimated the amount of mold contamination

at less than 20 percent -- but with a cost of from $40,000 and

$45,000 to replace.

" The reason to expedite the process was that we have to pass a

change order, " he said. " We did not want to wait until the [Oct. 15]

board meeting. "

Board member Lizz Gagnon cited a series of delays that she said

resulted from 17 Zoning Board of Adjustment hearings taking place

over several months in 2005, multiple denials of the school board's

variance application, and several subsequent appeals.

Had things moved more smoothly, she said, the mold problem could've

been avoided.

Dots of mold were discovered by the contractor the last week of

September, Gagnon said, adding that it " only effects an office

area " of the prospective annex building.

The entire supply of drywall sheets dedicated to classroom

construction is mold resistant, she said.

" There's no other mold or contamination on the stud work, framing or

anything inside the walls, " she added.

" I feel for the taxpayers, " Gagnon added, " but we have to do it the

right way and I don't want this to be delayed anymore. "

The district would explore the possibility of reimbursement for the

lost materials through insurance, she said.