THA mold to cause resident evacuation

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THA mold to cause resident evacuation

O'Connor AND STACEY SHEPARD

Monday, October 17, 2005

(NY)

http://www.tonawanda-news.com/story.asp?id=3638

The Tonawanda Housing Authority will evacuate three families and

conduct tests in another 40 apartments on Hinds Street after a

second inspection showed high levels of mold in one of its buildings.

THA board member Verrall paid for the second round of tests

after the company initially hired by THA to perform an inspection

determined there was no mold problem. Indoor Air Professionals

inspected several apartments Oct. 5 and left without collecting

samples.

Kenmore-based Lead Paint Assessment of New York collected samples a

week later, and lab results given to Verrall on Friday showed high

levels of stachybotrys, a blackish mold known to cause respiratory

problems, in two apartments it tested.

That prompted THA officials to evacuate all three families in the

building. A fourth apartment is vacant.

While LPA only provides raw data from the lab tests, not

recommendations, Verrall's research over the weekend convinced him

that the evacuation was necessary and that a full mold test of every

Hinds Street apartment is appropriate.

" We need to get these three families out pronto, " Verrall

said. " That's the only answer until we find out what the solution

is. "

No one was sure this weekend where the displaced families would end

up. Despite some 40 vacant apartments at the THA, the families were

not offered immediate relocation to another unit.

" The first question they asked me was, `Do you have anyone you can

go stay with,' and I said, `No,' " said Boehnke, who lives

with her husband and three children in one of the affected

apartments.

Verrall said he expected THA Executive Secretary Fitzsimmons to

start relocating the families Friday, but Fitzsimmons told Verrall

he would address the problem today.

Fitzsimmons has not returned repeated calls from the Tonawanda News.

Verrall and board member Gayle Syposs have questioned in recent

weeks the extent to which Fitzsimmons takes residents' complaints in

earnest. He seems to be part of the problem rather than the

solution, they said.

" Even after these reports get smashed in his face, I'm still not

sure he takes it seriously, " Verrall said.