UPPER POTTSGROVE — Water damage has forced officials to close community offices in the basement of the Farmington Avenue fire station.
The closure of these offices has already resulted in the cancellation of the scheduled March 20 Parish Council meeting. In addition, a March 22 zoning hearing, in which Artisan developers question the validity of the community’s zoning ordinance, was also canceled with no new date set yet.
A notice on the front door of Upper Pottsgrove Township offices informs visitors that the offices are closed. (Evan Brandt – MediaNews Group)
Community leader Michelle Reddick said the commissioners would hold a meeting on Wednesday, March 29 at 11am to conduct monthly business.
According to Reddick, the offices suffered “a lot of damage,” but she wouldn’t say what type of damage, where it came from, or if there was mold as a result.
“I don’t know what to say without speaking to (Township Solicitor) Eric Fry,” Reddick said.
She said a contractor is working on the “remediation” at the building departments. A truck recently spotted outside the community building was from Bulldog Cleaning and Restoration of Huntingdon Valley and its areas of expertise include water damage restoration and mold testing and remediation.
However, Commissioners Cathy Paretti and Dave Waldt confirmed that “the water issue at the council building has resulted in some mold issues which are being addressed, after which air samples will be taken to test air quality,” Paretti wrote.
Waldt wrote that a March 3 inspection first found signs of mold.
Reddick said she hopes to have staff back in the building by next week.
“We don’t like working from home,” Reddick said.
Municipal offices are no strangers to mold caused by water damage. The meeting room there had been renovated twice because of mold during the term of office of ex-commissioner Martin Schreiber, he said on Wednesday.
Also, members of the fire department told The Mercury that about three months ago, a roof leak occurred in the building, resulting in mold in several fire department offices located upstairs with community offices located in the basement.
The community bought the firehouse about 20 years ago and leases the upper part to the fire department for $1 a year.
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