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Lead Paint, Asbestos Found in School Gym
By Tom Kasprzack
Published on 9/24/2004
Pawcatuck -- Construction workers renovating Stonington High School have encountered some lead paint and asbestos inside the gymnasium, Peter Manning, senior project manager for the Gilbane Construction Co. said last week.
Manning told the Stonington High School Building Committee that work to remove hazardous materials would not be done during school hours.
"That type of work is going to have to be done off hours," Manning said.
Manning also said that bright orange snow fences will be installed temporarily around seeded areas to allow new grass to grow. The committee agreed this is a good idea.
"It will be ugly for a little bit but it will be worthwhile," committee member Gail McDonald said.
Committee Chairman Paul Sartor said he is pleased the contractor was able to have the high school ready for classes on the first day of school, Sept. 9, even while other work was continuing.
"Thank you Gilbane, Peter, for getting us in here when you said you would," Sartor said.
Construction crews have been focusing on the gymnasium, locker rooms and corridors leading to the gymnasium, trying to complete the process as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Manning said some structural issues are holding back the use of the locker rooms. He said the crews did not anticipate the amount of work that needed to be done repairing or replacing some steel lintels supporting the roof.
Gilbane has provided trailers for students as temporary locker rooms until the locker rooms are completed.
"I'm confident that the locker rooms will be able to take people on Oct. 1," Manning said.
The cafeteria, which was to be completed by Jan. 1, is nine days behind schedule, and the gymnasium addition, which was to be completed by Feb. 17, is 12 days behind schedule.
"I don't have a clear excuse as to why that is," Manning said.
He speculated that pulling resources from the projects to get the new wing running by Sept. 9 could have been the reason.
"Just keep moving as fast as you can; it's good," Sartor said.
Manning also said that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), randomly visited the school during construction hours and was "in and out" in about three hours. OSHA did not issue any citations concerning the safety of the building, he said.
Manning said that in his 20 years of experience on construction sites he has never seen an OSHA representative give such high remarks to a building.
One area of concern raised during the meeting was the installation of an aluminum fence
"The aluminum fence is clearly installed wrong," Manning told the committee.
The fence is supposed to be level with the steps leading up to the school but instead slopes downward. Although it poses no safety threat the committee felt that taxpayers paid to have it put in correctly and the subcontractor should re-install it correctly.
The entire project is scheduled to be completed by fall 2005.
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