Controller’s receive assurances that their office will soon reopen
A group of employees from the Fayette County controller’s office received assurances Thursday from the county commissioners that the office will soon be back in the courthouse and out of their cramped quarters in the Federal Building. The eight employees, including the controller, have been working out of a single room in the Federal Building since several workers in the controller’s basement and first-floor courthouse offices became ill and were sent home. Since that time, two tests of air quality have been conducted in the office and steps have been taken to follow recommendations to improve air quality in the office and make it safe for inhabitants. The tests revealed trace amount of mold and mildew but no hazardous findings.
During public comment, three controller’s office employees, Linda Burke, Sydney Bush and Pamela Baird, said their temporary quarters are becoming more and more inadequate. Burke, who is pregnant with twins, said the Federal Building site doesn’t have a connection to the Infocon computer and employees must go to the adult probation office in the courthouse to use the connection.
Bush said a room large enough for three people is holding eight and it is hard to move around. Although she thanked everyone for what they have done so far she said she would like the commissioners to make it a priority to get the employees back to the courthouse.
Baird said payroll is difficult because of all of the walking back and forth between buildings. “I want an ETA on when we will get back. I just didn’t want it to be six months,” she said.
Burke said there are only two telephone lines for eight people and no fax machine. “It’s getting harder and harder to do the work,” she said. “Can we count on you to get us back?”
County Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh pointed out that the second set of test results were only received earlier this week and work has to be completed on encapsulating the asbestos floor tiles before employees can move back in. In what he called an aggressive estimate, Cavanagh told the employees that they may be able to be back in the courthouse by Monday.
“We need to get quotes and get them on it,” he said of completing the floor tile work.
Cavanagh said the encapsulating work can be funded by using money from the capital fund.
Jack Frith of the building and grounds department said they are working diligently right now replacing duct work and removing a window to bring in fresh air. He said he would like to clean the office again before work begins to encapsulate floor tiles.
Frith said he doesn’t think the employees can be back in Monday, but one day next week is possible.
Dino F. Bruno, a union representative for the Service Employees International Union Local 585, said the health and safety committee should visit the Federal Building site. He also said that the results of a survey on air quality circulated for the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention will be made available to the commissioners. Bruno said it shouldn’t be a political issue, but rather a concern with the health of employees.
Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls said the commissioners tried to act as quickly as possible on the issue.
“Its drug out a little longer than anticipated but we’re implementing recommendations,” he said.
Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites said the commissioners need to get the employees back in the courthouse “and they need to get the tools to do the job.”
Cavanagh criticized Controller Mark Roberts by saying it was irresponsible for Roberts to tell a custodian that there was fatal black mold in the office. He said progress has been slowed further because of two anonymous calls to the Environmental Protection Agency office.
“When anonymous calls are made to the EPA you have to stop or they’ll come down on you like a ton of bricks,” he said.
Roberts took the podium to say that never said anything about what was in the office. “All that matters is my employees,” he said. “We have an entire office displaced, we need them back quickly.”
Vicites said they in limbo until the second test results were received. Frith said he and the commissioners have tried to accommodate the employees as best they can.
In a related matter, the commissioners voted to seek an RFP, request for proposals, for a comprehensive ventilation and air quality test for the courthouse.
Cavanagh and Vicites voted in favor of the motion with Nehls opposed. He earlier said that the testing was overkill and had been done before.
“I’d rather be safe than sorry,” Cavanagh said.
Vicites said he has taken the issue very seriously. “My concern is health, safety and welfare of county employees and I think we should do final testing of courthouse,” he said.
“We need to get this thing resolved one and for all,” Vicites said. “I think the controllers office needs to be back in the courthouse.”