Just when the Hudson County Freeholders thought they’d solved their problems about aging buildings, union representatives say that moving into the new County Plaza building in Jersey City may have its own woes.
In early June, several freeholders reviewed conditions at the welfare offices in the Journal Square area, noting safety and health problems at the sites.
While the Hudson County administration took action to solve some of these problems, freeholders said the best solution was to move up the date when the welfare offices would be relocated to a newly renovated former Block Drug site near Montgomery Street.
But Roger Quintana, president of the AFSCME Local 2306, said he has health concerns about the new facility, citing allegedly peeling paint and the possibility of mold.
“I saw a tremendous amount of flaking and peeling paint and what appeared to be mold on the ceiling throughout the facility,” he said. “When I asked the construction official, we were told that the ceiling was not going to be cleaned, but rather, a drop ceiling [would be] installed under the peeling and flaking paint. I was told that the black spots, which appeared to be mold, were not [mold]. I requested that it be checked.”
County Administrator Abe Antun said the county has already conducted environmental investigations, including testing for asbestos and lead paint, as well as the completion of air samplings.
Antun said he has requested a copy of the reports and will give them to Quintena to assure him of the building’s safety.
“Regarding the black spots that Mr. Quintana believes to be mold, I was told that the black spots are the residue from removing the old piping of the sprinkler system,” Antun said. “The contractor is responsible for removing all the black spots on the walls and ceilings.”
The flaking paint, however, will remain in some areas.
“Since the testing of the paint did not reveal lead, it was the recommendation of the project team to leave the flaking paint on the ceiling since it will be covered by the drop ceilings,” Antun said.
Meanwhile, concerns were once more raised about the existing welfare offices. While the county took action to cleanup problems raised last month, a triggered fire alarm raised concerns amongst some employees because the system apparently is not connected to the Jersey City Fire Department.
Antun, in a report to a request from the freeholders, said workers are safe.
“I have been able to learn that the fire alarm system is not tied into the Jersey City Fire Department, but is provided by a vendor named Supreme Security System,” he said. “If the alarm goes off, it sends a signal to Supreme Security and they relay that signal to the Jersey City Fire Department. This was the system the previous owner had in place when we took over the building.”
Antun said the vendor will be reviewing the system to correct the problem.
“The sheriff will provide an hourly patrol when the building is not occupied,” he said. “During the day, the sheriff provides security in the building.”