Library Repairs

Although I did demand written status reports on progress at the library, to remediate the mold and raw sewage problems, to date I’ve heard nothing, and I continue to gather data in support of a criminal prosecution or a civil lawsuit, to protect the rights of the public (and the library staff, for that matter) to a safe library environment.

A lot of documents are ready for pickup at Borough Hall in response to an OPRA request about who is the “designated person” responsible for Indoor Air Quality at the library (under N.J.A.C. 12:100-13) and documents related to HVAC maintenance and Borough funding for library repairs. I’ll be going back to pay for and pick up those maintenance records, but the preliminary information is that Public Works Department Director James Rodino is responsible for library maintenance and Indoor Air Quality standards, and that the 2006 Borough Budget, (Ordinance No. 06-12, probably passed in June or July 2006) authorized $116,100 in financing for “acquisition and installation of a sprinkler system, replacement and repairs to the roof and renovations to the heating, gentilation and air conditioning system at the Memorial Library of the Borough.”

Remains to be seen what happened to that money, but to my knowledge the repairs have not yet been done, and a new $135,000 allocation was authorized during this spring’s budget round.

Update 2/1/08: I dropped my investigation of this issue because I didn’t have enough time to pursue it. If any readers want to take it on as their pet project, please do, and pass along any information you find.