Yesterday, I told you Northampton County courthouse workers are getting sick. They're scared, too. Asbestos removal signs, warning of cancer, tend to do that. Contractor Alvin H. Butz is in a hurry to finish the judges' overbudget Taj Mahal, and is kicking up clouds of dust.County workers' biggest concern is that the Stoffa administration just doesn't care what happens to them. I found that out last week, when I first started sticking my big nose into this matter. Let me tell you what I've learned over the past week.
1. First, the good news. No asbestos contamination.
Whatever it is, it's not asbestos.
Last Friday, after hearing asbestos concerns from several courthouse employees, I called the state DEP. Within an hour, my call was returned, and the courthouse was inspected that day by investigator Don Kehler. He assured me that the precautionary measures taken by Butz don't just meet, but exceed, what is required by law. Anyone with concerns or fears about asbestos should call Kehler directly. His phone is 610-861-2079. Unlike me, he knows what he's talking about.
2. Butz has been sloppy in its renovations, creating a dust problem.
The county's director of public works, Steve DeSalva, has only been on the job for three months. But in that time, he has repeatedly admonished Butz over its lax attitude towards dust and debris. Obviously, Butz is under pressure because it is both over budget and behind schedule. There's a temptation to cut corners.
Last week, DeSalvo gave Butz an ultimatum to get its dust under control. As he explained the situation in layman's terms to me, Butz "needs a boot in the ass." He's also asked the court administrator for help in getting this under control.
DeSalvo told me the contractor must make a better effort to block ventilators in a construction area. Their goal is to keep dust at a minimum and out of the hallways. "Once dust is in the hallways, it will be circulated through the building. You won't see it, but it will be there." Employees should not have to see a fog of particles. DeSalvo also made clear that safety is his primary concern.
If you see something that doesn't seem right to you, I'd suggest you give his office a call. His number is 610-559-3197.
3. County Administrators Will Listen to Complaints.
Last week, when I first hinted about this problem, I posted an employee's sincere criticism that the Stoffa administration has been distant and unresponsive. That prompted a response from Bill Hillanbrand, Stoffa's director of court offices. His office is not on the fourth floor with the other hotshots. He instead chose an office in the most contaminated office of all - register of wills. Here's what Bill said in the wee morning hours.
"It's 2:50 a.m., and I am awake. I am concerned that an employee feels that the administration does not care about their employees. I am also a county worker. ... If any county worker wishes to contact me, stop me in the hallway of the courthouse; phone me 610-559-3091; or email me at whillanb@northamptoncounty.org or come to my office. My office is located in the basement with Orphan's Court. I am not a miracle worker, but I will do the best I can to help. Thanks, Bill"
Bill's hearfelt comment demonstrates that the Stoffa administration, contrary to popular opinion, does care.
On Monday, I went down to the public defender's office, where employees have suffered for weeks. They were packing their stuff. Stoffa told them to clear out. One employee is working from home, and the office is being relocated during construction. This is yet another demonstration that the administration does care about courthouse workers.
And guess what? The Butz employee whose sole job was mopping hallways, has magically reappeared.
4. County Administrators and Workers Need to Open up Lines of Communication.
Although county administrators genuinely care about the people who work at the courthouse, morale is very bad. Now, more than ever, it's important to open up lines of communication with rank and file workers. Stoffa and his inner circle need to circulate much more around the courthouse. County administrators should be tell people about asbestos instead of letting them find out about it by seeing a sign or some guy who's wearing all kinds of protective clothing and a mask. Some have suggested a weekly newsletter, but nothing is better than personal contact.
Communication must improve. And that's a two-way street.
I would counsel caution in placing too much trust in PADEP, including its investigator with whom you talked about possible asbestos contamination in the Northampton County Government Center "improvements."
ReplyDeletePADEP is currently conspiring with the county, the city of Easton, the Easton Redevelopment Authority, the Easton Zoning Hearing Board, Arcadia Properties, and Lafayette College in the taking, under duress, of 33 privately owned properties in the Bushkill Creek Corridor between 13th Street and Larry Holmes Drive.
The conspirators hatched this plot long before the outrageous U.S. Supreme Court split decision (5-4)upholding the taking of private property through emininemt under the rubric of "economic development."
The conspiracy could only have encouraged the Court's Chief Justice, John Roberts, who as a lawyer in private practice charted this dangerous new course, to argue and write the majority opinion in his first ruling as Chief Justice.
The conspiracy is in well along toward destroying 33 tax-paying private businesses to accommodate non-profit, non-taxpaying Lafayette College.
Finally, the conspiracy threatens that portion of Easton Cemetery, listed on the Register of National Historic Places, that borders Bushkill Creek between 13th Street and Larry Holmes Drive.
After complaining, again, about the health issues in the DA's office, we were graced with the appearance of a person who collected dust and checked the cubicles to make sure we were not having problems with fiberglass contamination. The air quality was not checked for contaminants of any kind. Some of which are probably older than most of us. The first time the air quality was checked we were informed that the solution should be a complete cleaning of the air ducts, which have never been cleaned, and might help the problem. However, since this is probably and expensive proposition we never heard any more about that solution.
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