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04/09/2010 12:00 AMOLD SAYBROOK – First Selectman Michael Pace and Police Chief Michael Spera quickly crafted a short-term solution to relocate staff after learning from the Health Director today that the Police Station's condition could threaten staff health.
The initial short-term solution, according to Pace, would be to relocate some of the daily operations staff of the Police Department to the lower level of Town Hall. According to Pace, the level can be secured, has two staircases to serve it, and incorporates the well-equipped town emergency operations center. The EOC's communications console and system is a redundant system for the one located at the police station. Additional adjacent rooms on that level would also be made available for the police department staff including the town staff's lunchroom area and a nearby storage room.
Pace said a longer-term plan for addressing the police station's condition would be presented to the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance within the next two weeks.
As a result of flooding to a depth of eight inches in the basement and roof breaches during the recent heavy storms, Connecticut River Area Health District Director Mary Jane Engle told Police Chief Michael Spera today she recommends that the operations of the police department be moved from the damaged police station on Main Street.
"During my inspection there was an odor that, in my opinion, is the result of tiles, sheetrock, insulation, pipe covering, etc remaining wet for seven days. Mold and mildew will flourish under these wet, warm conditions within 24-48 hours….Due to the potential for anyone spending a prolonged period of time in the building to be adversely affected by the mold and mildew, I would recommend that the operations of the department be relocated."
—Becky Coffey