Town Hall air stirs storm

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Town Hall air stirs storm: Clerk's husband says Watertown has wrong

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Wednesday, August 23, 2006

BY TOMMY VALUCKAS

Waterbury Republican American - Waterbury,CT

http://www.rep-am.com/story.php?id=11515

WATERTOWN -- The husband of the town clerk, who is on medical leave

from her job, harshly criticized the Town Council Monday night for

not clearing the air in Town Hall.

, a former three-term GOP councilman, charged officials

were " putting the cart before the horse " by focusing on the 112-year-

old building's structural issues instead of investigating air

quality problems and protecting the health of the facility's nine

employees.

Spending money on repairs first, he said, is " irresponsible and

defies logic. "

's wife, Virginia C. , took medical leave in late

February after complaining of health and stress-related problems she

said developed while she worked in her first-floor office the past

four years. She filed complaints with the state Department of

Labor's Division of Occupational Safety and Health in January, and

said she would not return to work until problems with the building

were corrected.

She filed a notice of intent, dated Aug. 3, to pursue personal

injury claims against the council, town officials and " other proper

parties. " said his wife has been diagnosed with adult-

onset asthma and mold-related allergies, and has been directed not

to enter buildings with moisture or mold problems.

He added his wife has been " statutorily discharged " by the town, is

not being paid and in effect is prevented from fulfilling her

duties.

He said she has been recuperating at home.

" We are proceeding along with the Town Hall problems, prudently, "

said Democratic council Chairman ph Pawlak on Tuesday. He

pointed to the council's vote Monday to hire the ph L. Calabrese

PC engineering consulting firm of Waterbury to conduct a structural

analysis of the building for $18,000 as a start.

" It's something we have to do before we spend $100,000 on a new

roof, " he said.

characterized air quality tests made by the state

safety and health division on Feb. 28 a " sham. " In its report

summary, the state said only in the former registrars' office did

the number of fungi colony-forming units (1,207) per cubic meter of

air exceed an accepted contamination indicator of 1,000 units.

However, the report also stated that a level in excess of 1,000

did " not necessarily imply that conditions are unsafe or hazardous, "

and it is the types and concentrations of airborne microorganisms

that determine a hazard to an employee.

further alleged the town has not released the results

of July quarterly tests done by an independent environmental testing

company.

Pawlak disputed 's charge.

" Everything in the work areas is fine, " Pawlak said, according to

the company's testing report that became available Monday.

Frigon, town purchasing agent, said he has not yet

thoroughly reviewed the company's report, but there didn't appear to

be any alarming findings.

recommended the Town Hall's nine current employees be

relocated to " clean and safe " quarters, and that rooms and record-

keeping areas and vaults at the Town Hall be sanitized and tested

for mold immediately.

Pawlak said the town clerk had been offered working space in the

Town Hall Annex or other locations, but she turned them down.

" Her response was she has to be 'next to my people,' " he said.

Virginia contends the Annex also has water leakage problems

and she could not perform her job in a vacated office devoid of

staff, equipment, records and vaults.

In response to a resident's question at the council meeting, Acting

Town Manager J. Nardelli Jr. said he is unaware of any of the

Town Hall's nine other employees complaining of health problems

associated with bad air.