Mary Ellen Godin
Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
(TNS)
Oct. 11—MERIDEN — Fire and police officials made dramatic pitches Tuesday for needed repairs at their facilities, including showing pictures of black mold at Fire Station 5 on East Main Street.
The fire chief and deputy fire chief told members of the City Council’s Finance Committee they have been patching roof leaks that are spreading to the floors and walls.
“We’ve had multiple firefighters file compensation claims for respiratory issues caused by mold,” said Deputy Chief Cristina Schoeck. “There are structural issues from the rain coming down from outside.”
The committee met Tuesday to discuss and vote on allocating the remaining $3.7 million American Rescue Plan Act funds. It agreed to give the Fire Department funds to fix both roofs.
“They’ve been patching it, but it’s gotten so bad it’s at the point it’s not worth it,” said Fire Chief Ken Morgan.
City Manager Brian Daniels told the committee both buildings were in “terrible” condition and he has had extensive discussions with department administrators about not making interior repairs without replacing the roofs.
The presentation led to discussions among committee members on how the issue was overlooked. They expressed concerns about the firefighters’ health.
“They have made multiple requests that for some reason were rejected,” said Councilwoman Yvette Cortez, who chairs the Public Safety Committee.
A delay occurred when the city had seriously considered building its dispatch center at the Pratt Street firehouse. The proposal would have called for a new roof and other improvements. However, the city opted to rebuild a new center next to the police station, forcing the department to scramble to find funds for roof repairs.
Daniels invited city councilors to tour the two stations to see the conditions.
“These pictures don’t begin to show the conditions inside these buildings,” Daniels said.
Police Chief Roberto Rosado also shared a request for $1.4 million to cover the overrun on the proposed cellblock renovation project. The Police Department is about to redesign its floor plan in three phases. The city has allotted $3.3 million in its capital improvement plan, but according to early estimates, more is needed.
A point of grave concern is a detention area where a prisoner committed suicide in January 2016. Soon afterward, the police union filed a grievance against the department, claiming “unsafe conditions” at the station. The union was reassured the situation would be corrected.
“This has been our goal to reduce the risk to prisoners and officers and prevent another suicide,” Rosado said.
The women’s locker room also needs to be expanded to account for more women joining the force. There are currently 20 lockers for 20 female officers; any new female officers would have to share a locker. Juvenile detention facilities are currently off a detective room and have no bathroom.
Both the police and fire requests were part of the final accounting of $36.3 million in ARPA funding that has to be fully allocated by December.
According to Daniels, allocations to city, community, and economic development programs such as Meriden Big left $4.1 million to spend.
The Finance Committee voted Tuesday to approve the police cellblock project, the two firehouse roofs, a $1 million ramp project, a tractor at Hunter’s Golf Course for $70,000, a generator at Meriden Inn for $15,000, $70,000 for Maloney’s Pub, $110,000 for paving at American Legion Post 45, a splash pad at the YMCA Mountain Mist camp for $167,000, and $200,000 for a new gym at the Meriden Boys and Girls Club.
If the full City Council approves the payouts, roughly $350,000 in ARPA funds will remain. Several smaller projects could be reviewed for possible investment, city officials said.
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