Greenwich Post Is Forced To Report About Frank Mazza's Latest Screw Up, But Still Is Too Afraid To Publish The Pictures Of Mold Conditions And Water Damage!!!!!
Could water damage, mold, delay Hamilton Avenue school opening?
Breaking news
Posted 5:24 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008
Due to ongoing problems with chimneys, water damage has been discovered inside the new Hamilton Avenue School after heavy rains last weekend, and one parent is questioning the discovery of possible mold growth inside the basement.
As part of the construction, a segment of the original school facade, facing Hamilton Avenue, was retained. That room, in the basement, which is part of the original building, appears to have green and white fuzz growing on it and a musty smell permeating the room. The Post was first informed about the situation through pictures sent by a parent to this office Wednesday. A visit to the site by this staff confirmed those conditions Thursday morning.
PLEASE SEE:
09/10/08 INSIDE HAM AVE PICS 1
09/10/08 INSIDE HAM AVE PICS 2
09/10/08 INSIDE HAM AVE PICS 3
09/10/08 INSIDE HAM AVE PICS 4
09/10/08 INSIDE HAM AVE PICS 5
09/10/08 INSIDE HAM AVE PICS 6
The Greenwich Post Continues.....
When first questioned about the conditions, Frank Mazza, chairman of the building committee, denied any problem, attributing the green color to paint.
“This isn’t mold,” Mr. Mazza said, adding that he hadn’t seen any alleged mold. “We don’t have any indication at all that this is mold.”
Wednesday night, Board of Education member Michael Bodson released an e-mail to parents and members of the building committee that the committee is arranging to have the firm Hygenix, which has done previous mold testing for the district, come to the site to examine the possible mold and test it.
When reached for comment on Thursday, Board of Education Chairwoman Nancy Weissler referred all questions to the building committee.
....Ceiling tiles
What is clear, is that the significant rainfall last weekend damaged ceiling tiles in three of the classrooms. At issue are the school’s three chimneys, which remain uncapped. The ceiling tiles in the classrooms on the second floor directly below the chimneys have all sustained damage and in two of the classrooms the tiles fell and there are now holes inside the ceiling. On observation from the Post, the fallen tiles show visible water damage and in the third classroom, the paint on the wall also shows water damage.
In an interview with the Post on Wednesday, Joseph Pontoriero, president of Worth Construction, said that the chimneys were never part of the company’s contract with the building committee.
He said that when the committee asked the company to address the problem it gave the committee a cost estimate of $50,000, which was rejected for being too high. Mr. Pontoriero said Worth is now waiting for the other company to do the work....
...When asked if the water damage could be repaired, Mr. Pontoriero said it is “entirely fixable,”but added that his company is not authorized to do work on that aspect of the building.
He would not comment on any possible mold in the building because he said he had not seen it.
Mr. Pontoriero expressed sympathy for the Hamilton Avenue community about the ongoing issues.
“The bottom line is, we want this project to be complete just as badly as these parents do,” Mr. Pontoriero said. “The kids are the ones suffering here and that’s not right.”
For continued coverage, read next Thursday’s Post or check back at Greenwich-post.com.
MORE:
Mike Bodson Was Mstaken When He Thought Frank Mazza Was Going Be Able To Handle The Greenwich Post.
A Shell Shocked Mike Bodson Did Not Count On The Fact That Greenwich Roundup Was Not Afraid To Publish A Concerned Hamilton Avenue Parents Pictures.
The Small Children Need These Concerned And Active Parents To Protect Them From Board Of Education Cover Ups!!!!!!
From: Mike Bodson
To: Dawn Nethercott ; Rose Furano ; Alex Capozza
Cc: mazza85indian@aol.com ; Frank Mazza (work) ; Nancy Weissler ; Sue Wallerstein ; Steve Anderson ; Leslie Moriarity ; Natalie Queen ; Jonathan Cohen ; Marianna Cohen ; Susan Ellis ; Betty Sternberg ; carol_desalvo@greenwich.k12.ct.us ; Julie Faryniarz ; Sylvester Pecora Sr. ; michaelbodson@yahoo.com ; Thomas L Smario ; Jay Schondorf ; Paul Toretta ; Thomas J. Heagney ; Tony Byrne ; Betty Sternberg ; damariscafidi@optonline.net ; Stephen Walko
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 5:43 PM
Subject: HAS situation
Rose, Dawn and Alex,
I know you are aware of the latest series of controversies regarding HAS project (Alex; Nancy told me you had contacted her). I am responding on behalf of BoE. I've cc'ed other members of the Building Committee as they may be able to correct any misunderstanding I may have of the situation. The following is based upon a series of phone calls and emails received today. I ask that if I am misrepresenting or understanding anything that they please correct such.
There are two sets of parallel issues underway:
1) Water Damage: As a result of the incomplete chimney work, there was water damaged sustained in one of the classrooms over the weekend due to the absence of chimney caps and of inadequate waterproofing. Ceiling tiles were damaged, there was water on the floor and other water damage may have occurred. I did not see the area myself but I heard it looked pretty bad. The underlying cause is the ongoing dispute between Worth and the Building Comm regarding the required chimney work. As part of the contract and architectural drawings, the chimneys were to be capped and pointing work done. Worth previously claimed the chimney was structurally unsound and later stated the capping was not part of the work to be done. As a result, the work has remained incomplete as no resolution was reached and with this weekend's storm, leaking occurred.
Frank Mazza was aware of the damage at the beginning of the week and various members of the building committee saw the damage on Tuesday after the meeting. It was stated to at least two building committee representatives by a representative of Worth that they would not do the work and would take no further steps to prevent leakage.
The committee will be hiring an outside firm asap to get the chimney fixed and will work with Worth, and others if necessary, to get the proper and appropriate repairs done on the damage sustained, including eliminating all material which was wet given the obvious concern about mold ensuing.
The building committee and the BoE will not accept the building if there is any concern that there could be water damage, mold opportunities etc. We all want the building completed asap but we will not cut corners. As we have stated all along, prior to occupying the building we will have a full environmental testing regime taken to ensure that there is absolutely no issues. We will also continue with periodic inspections in the future to ensure that the healthy conditions are maintained. Regarding the chimney, while the architect and her engineer has stated the chimney is sound, as we previously reported, the BoE is hiring a separate engineer to test for structural soundness to further allay any concerns. This work will be done as soon as the scaffolding is put in for the capping/pointing work (needs to be in place for the engineer to do their inspection).
2) Apparently, a parent from HAS was invited to visit the construction site by Worth and was then shown the water damage and alleged evidence of mold in the cellar beneath the original building. The parent took photographs which she in turn sent to Ken Borsuk of the Greenwich Post. Copies are floating around and saw a few but it was hard to tell exactly what was in the photos. The Post was going to release an immediate article but has waited off until tomorrow as they have been invited to visit the site by Frank Mazza so they see first hand what the situation is. Per Mr. Mazza, the cellar in question is dry. The wall is old and it is covered with various white wash/paint including old, flaky green paint which may have been mistaken for mold. He has assured me there is no problem. The Post will determine such first hand. However, as a further step, we are arranging to have Hygenix send someone in to inspect the area to provide further independent
inspection.
While it appears that there is no issue, again, if anything comes up we will immediately remediate or take any other appropriate action. We also would have the area inspected as part of the pre-opening environmental test so we will get additional assurance then.
I really can't comment on the individual who decided to raise the issue directly with the press rather than going to us, to the Town of Greenwich or others.
Lastly, I am baffled by Worth's behavior. They are responsible for the construction site; if they had in fact discovered a mold condition why not fix it or raise to Building Committee? What was to be gained by publicizing it without warning? Re the water damage, why not take appropriate preventive steps, even if in dispute over the chimney. I am sure there is an answer but it is eluding me at this point.
As we get more information, I will let you know. I am sorry I did not send you information earlier but I just returned from London mid-afternoon. I will let you know more as soon as we get more facts.
As always, feel free to contact me by email, phone, cell, etc. at any time.
Thanks
Mike
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