Toxic mold present in court

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January 28, 2006

Toxic mold present in court

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/01/28/news-vwmold2-01-28.ht

ml

By Victor Whitman

Times Herald-Record

vwhitman@...

Middletown,NY

Monticello - Toxic black mold has been found in Village Court.

An inspector notified the village nearly two months ago that the

courtroom

and an unoccupied room on the second floor were " unsafe for use. "

Hundreds of people have since come in and out of the courtroom.

Court was held Thursday evening while a typed memo taped to the

entrance said that court would soon move " due to repairs. "

The most serious kind of mold, Stachybotris, was discovered in " very

high levels " in the upper-floor room, near the offices of the

Monticello

police youth officer, according to a Dec. 6 inspection report by

Hibbert of Perfect House Home Consultants.

High levels of the less toxic Pencillium/Aspergillus were found

behind the

judge's bench in the courtroom. Both molds can cause allergic

reactions,

rashes and respiratory problems, which can be severe for those with

asthma and pulmonary problems.

Hibbert recommended the courtroom be " thoroughly remediated to

maintain air quality safety " by removing ceiling tiles, most

drywall, plaster

and insulation on the rear and right walls and treating the entire

room with

fungicide.

The court clerks and the youth officer will be moved to the Ted

Stroebele

Recreation Center next week. Village Court will move to the county

courthouse Friday, then into the firehouse next to Village Hall. The

fire

department is expected to move into the new firehouse on

Avenue next month. The Village Court building will be torn down.

" I don't see this is as a big deal, " Mayor Jim Barnicle said. " We as

a board

collectively agreed not to put any money into the court building and

to

move the personnel there out of the building. "

Village Justice phine Finn didn't return repeated calls for a

comment.

" It wasn't something that we tried to keep secret, " said Village

Manager

Sush. " There was supposed to be a press release. "