Community Aging and Retirement Services Inc. (CARES) develops sick building syndrome after Floods

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http://www.sptimes.com/Pasco/110498/_Sick__building_displ.html

'Sick' building displaces staff, community meetings

The new wing of the CARES center on Rottingham Road has flooded several

times. Some employees have become ill.

By BETH GLENN

© St. sburg Times, published November 4, 1998

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PORT RICHEY -- Several community groups that usually meet at the Community

Aging and Retirement Services Inc., or CARES, building on Rottingham Road

will have to postpone or relocate their classes because of something dubbed

sick building syndrome. CARES director Bill Aycrigg said the center's new

wing is taking on water and has flooded three times in the year since it

opened. When employees in the new wing began complaining of cold and

flu-like symptoms and allergic reactions to the dampness, Aycrigg moved them

into the center's hallway and common room.

" Just to be on the safe side, we closed the wing until we can fix the

problem, " Aycrigg said. " And we moved everything into the common areas. "

With the desks of CARES staffers sharing the main meeting room with file

cabinets and other office equipment, there is little room left for club

activities -- especially those that involve lots of noise or movement.

But Aycrigg said groups sponsoring such activities have alternatives to

canceling their meetings.

" We're trying to accommodate people who can't meet because of the noise

level, " he said. " They can meet either at the Claude Pepper Center or in the

Hudson Senior Center. "

Sue Sampson, of the Area Council on Aging, said the November mature driving

classes for Pasco already have been canceled. But she said the group had

tentative plans to hold its December meetings at the Ranch Road center or at

one of the other CARES sites.

CARES officials are not sure what is causing the building to flood or

whether the dampness was causing the illnesses. Moving the 10 to 15

employees in the new wing was just a precaution, Aycrigg said. But he added

that they are optimistic about fixing the flooding problem quickly.

" We hope within the next 30 days we will be able to resolve the situation

and get everybody back in their places, " he said. " We're hoping it will all

be fixed by Dec. 4, because we're trying to host a marathon bingo session to

raise funds for the agency. "

So far, Aycrigg said, the following groups would be most likely to face

relocation: the Long Island Club, yoga, bridge and pinochle players and any

large crafting and quilting groups.

" It's been real inconvenient for everybody, " he said, sighing. " But

everybody's been real understanding. "

Other clubs that have questions about their meeting schedules should contact

Fricket at 862-9291.