Portsmouth Mayor Jane Murray has mandated that the Portsmouth Police Department move immediately to the location of the Central Station of Portsmouth Fire Department.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner says it is impossible to move the department in the time given.

“Effective immediately, this week, due to mold problems in the Police Department that was brought to our attention several weeks ago by the Chief (Charles Horner), and continuing complaints, although I understand the mold has been going on in department for four or five years,” Murray told Portsmouth City Council Monday. “But this week I’ve spoken to Chief Raison, and he will accommodate. The Police Department will be moving from the lower level of this building to the Central Fire Station, immediately this week. And he will be making all of the arrangements with the Chief of the Fire Department.”

“I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to comply with the order,” Horner said. “We were ordered to move this week to the Central Fire Station, and it is impossible to accomplish that order within the time frame set forth.”

In July Portsmouth Police Department employees reported experiencing illness which they attributed to black mold, and they said Murray refused to have samples tested. However Murray said tests were not needed, because once mold is identified, it needs to simply be removed, a decision supported by Julie Weaver of Brown Consulting Services, LLC, who sent an e-mail to City Services Director Bill Beaumont on July 21, 2010 which said — “Normally we tell clients that if you can see mold, you have mold, don’t bother testing for it but rather focus your efforts cleaning it up and eliminating the source of the moisture enabling the growth of it.”

Horner received a letter from the Chief Building Inspector for the city of Portsmouth Tuesday (Aug. 24) which had, according to the date on the letter, been mailed on Aug. 12.

The letter says the area of the location of the Portsmouth Police Department has been inspected, and found to be in violation of the 2007 Ohio Building Code.

“The Building Department is hereby ordering the space to be vacated because the HVAC equipment has been inadequately maintained. This order is pursuant to the ORC (Ohio Revised Code),” the letter says. “So you have 30 days from this mailing date to correct all violations and comply with this order. Failure to comply with this order may result in fines of up to $500 for each day, and for each violation.”

Murray said as soon as she received notification of the violation, she prepared a memo to the chief, all department directors, the City Solicitor, the City Auditor, members of Council and the news media.

The reason for the move is to allow workers to take care of the mold problem that has caused numerous illnesses within the department.

“Yesterday was my first day back after being on injury leave,” Thoroughman said. “I go into my office and immediately obtain a headache, nauseous in my stomach — the same with the girls in the records bureau who have been experiencing health problems.”

Horner also indicated he has missed work for illnesses he associates with the mold.

Horner said the order to move should have come after everything involved in the process was considered.

“Clearly we should have developed a plan and implemented that plan, and we did not do that in this case,” Horner said. “I think the Mayor indicated I should get with (Fire) Chief (Bill) Raison to discuss the logistics. We have, in fact, spent most of the morning doing that. And we have found that we cannot accomplish what she has ordered in the time frame she has set forth.”

Raison said there are several modifications that would have to be made to the Central Fire Station to facilitate the move.

“We would have to vacate our conference room which we use three or four times a week for training classes. We can do that, and obviously we will do everything we can to assist the Police Department and to accommodate their needs, Raison said. “If that is what we have to do that is what we have to do. But that is going to negatively impact our day to day operations. We have a physical fitness room we would have to vacate that as well. But, again, there are consequences to that. Even doing that, I’m not sure it is still going to be adequate space for the amount of time.”

Raison said it could be accomplished for a few days, but he doesn’t believe Murray is talking about just a few days.

Portsmouth Police Captain David Thoroughman said another cost to the city will be the moving of the Police Department’s computer server.

“We currently have a grant that has been awarded to us which would enable us to purchase another server plus a back up server to update our current server, and have a back up server at the Fire Department, which would save us the cost of having to move our server right now,” Thoroughman said. “With the grant it is not costing the city anything, and it gives us the ability to have a back up in case we have a disaster.”

Horner said Murray denied the $88,000 grant by not signing off on the purchase order.

Horner said Murray accepted it in March, and accepted a modification in June, but refused to sign the purchase order when he made arrangements to install the system.

Horner said he would use the Law Enforcement Fund to pay for the system up front, and the grant would reimburse the city for $66,000, meaning $22,000 would come from the fund which comes from drug arrests, and not cost taxpayers in the city any money at all. Horner said he does not know why Murray will not sign off on the purchase order, when the grant is already there.

Frank Lewis may be reached at (740) 353-3101 Ext. 232 or flewis@heartlandpublications.com