Festering problems: Mold-infected apartments force evacuations

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Festering problems: Mold-infected apartments force evacuations

O Connor

Thursday, October 27, 2005

North Tonawanda,NY

http://www.tonawanda-news.com/story.asp?id=3712

A week and a half after potentially dangerous mold was discovered at

the Tonawanda Housing Authority, the three families most affected

have been given alternate living quarters.

A handful of apartments on the Hinds Street side of the authority

have been tested for mold. The most recent results showed no

dangerous mold, but detected the presence of everyday, allergenic

mold. That was in contrast to a test two weeks ago that showed high

levels of stachybotrys, a more serious, blackish mold known to case

respiratory problems.

The authority awaits the results of a new round of testing,

according to Lynnette , chairperson of the authority's board.

" Everything being done by (Executive Secretary) Mr. ()

Fitzsimmons is in accordance with the information we had. We were

not aware of the severity until the testing was done, " she said. " I

say we because and the board are working together. "

The next step, after relocating the tenants of 207, 209 and 211, is

to bring in experts to advise the authority on a game plan.

" We don't even know the questions, let alone the answers, "

said.

In the meantime, residents such as Boehnke, the one who first

brought the mold problem to the authority, begin the moving process

across the complex.

" It's been 12 days since we discovered the toxicity, " said

Verrall, a former board member. " And she's just being moved. And to

a place that has allergenic mold. "

Boehnke is unsure what she should bring to her new apartment. She's

been told that stachybotrys can stick to everything — beds, couches,

clothing — and it would be unwise to bring anything from the old

apartment to the new one. But how can she leave everything behind?

To help, a group of concerned citizens is rounding up donations.

Verrall, who resigned last week, was waiting at home Wednesday, his

day off, for some friends and a truck to arrive to pick up a bed and

other supplies donated for the transported residents.

As a board member, Verrall pushed hard to get the authority to take

a proactive approach to the mold, rather than reactive. He's been

critical of what he considers a passive response by Fitzsimmons and

resigned in protest Friday.

" There are things I can do now without a conflict of interest, " he

said. " This is really just begun. From a legal standpoint, this is

going to open a huge can of worms.

" Law is based on common sense. If you look at it, there's not a lot

of common sense being applied. I'm at litigation risk myself because

I was on the board, too. "

Verrall has a long list of items he'd like to accomplish. He'd first

like to get more testing of the Hinds Street buildings, since not

all have been tested. He also wants to look into supposed electrical

overcharges. In some cases, tenants receive monthly electrical bills

for more than $100, in addition to a small amount of electricity

residents are allotted in their rent.

" This is just the tip of the iceberg of what I will be doing to

assure that these people begin to be treated in a way where they are

not abused, " he said.

Contact O'Connor at (716) 693-1000, Ext. 115.