Town workers facing mold, cracks, danger

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Thursday, September 28, 2006

Worcester Telegram - Worcester,MA

Town workers facing mold, cracks, danger

West Boylston to vote on funds for town offices

By Laquidara Hill TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20060928/NEWS/309280003/1008/NEWS02

WEST BOYLSTON— The subtle odor of mold that greets visitors to the

Helen C. Mixter Municipal Building is only one of the building's

problems, but town offices are likely to remain there for another

two years, until it is replaced.

Town Administrator Leon Gaumond Jr. said yesterday that voters at

the Oct. 16 town meeting will be asked to approve funds for a study

to determine the cost of building a new Town Hall and renovating

other town and school buildings. He estimated the cost of the study

at less than $100,000.

Once the study is complete, he said, voters at a later town meeting

will be asked to approve a debt exclusion to pay for the multi-

building project.

If all goes well, he said, construction of a new Town Hall should

start in a year and take less than a year.

Hot in the summer and cold in the winter, the flat-roofed Mixter

Building could collapse if it is weighted down by 18 inches of snow,

according to Breagy, building inspector.

The solution to that problem will be the same this winter as last

winter, according to Mr. Gaumond. He said yesterday that if there is

significant snow this winter, he will protect town employees and

visitors by ordering the building closed until enough snow has

melted.

Last winter, Mr. Breagy said, soon after he was hired as building

inspector, he ordered workers who were shoveling snow from the roof

to get off of it. A subsequent structural evaluation of the building

by an independent firm found the roof was unsafe for the weight of a

man, Mr. Breagy said Monday.

He attributes the odor to mold and mildew caused by leaks. A more

serious problem, said Mr. Breagy, is the lack of structural

integrity.

" I would never give them an occupancy certificate and neither did

the two previous (building) inspectors, " Mr. Breagy said Monday. " As

far as I know, they haven't had one in a decade or more than a

decade. "

He said the building was built as a school in the 1960s. He said it

would not pass inspection if it were built today.

" The joists are too long for the spans. Basically, it would not meet

any codes today, " Mr. Breagy said.

He said structural problems include " severe cracks " in the masonry

bearing walls.

" Eventually the walls will crack, the roof will give. It's already

started, " Mr. Breagy said.

The plan in July was for Mr. Gaumond to lease space for town offices

until a new building is constructed, but selectmen recently voted

against spending $100,000 to lease space.

Mr. Gaumond said yesterday the warrant article for the Oct. 16 town

meeting would get the ball rolling on replacing the Mixter Building.

He said the funds, if approved, might come from available funds in

town accounts. They would pay for requests for proposals for

building a new Town Hall on or near the current site. Also,

proposals would be sought for renovating the Major

Elementary School and West Boylston High School, the police station,

the fire station and for a new Department of Public Works building.

In the meantime, Mr. Gaumond said, he is concerned that health

problems could be caused by the mold, and wants to have the matter

studied.

McCormick, chairman of selectmen, who had supported leasing

space in another building until the Mixter Building is replaced,

said yesterday that most town officials and town employees are

willing to continue using the Mixter Building pending a permanent

solution.