Mold remediation being done at Mount Holly Municipal Building

MOUNT HOLLY The last five years have not been good at the municipal building on Washington Street.

The first floor experienced major flooding in 2007 and last August during Tropical Storm Irene. Irene's damages have cost the township about $600,000.

Now, mold has been discovered in ductwork on the second and third floors.

The Township Council on Monday declared a special emergency so the building can remain open as remediation is done. Budget money will need to be transferred to cover the costs.

About $16,000 has been paid since the mold was discovered Oct. 6, interim Township Manager Denise Rose said. That cost will increase because only the third floor has been remediated so far, Township Clerk Kathy Hoffman said. Work on the second floor is under way and is expected to take a few weeks to complete, she said.

The first floor will be inspected to make sure no mold is present, Hoffman said. Repairs to the first floor were completed in May.

Services in the building were moved around to minimize any future flood damage. The municipal court, previously on the second floor, is now on the ground floor. The first floor also has a lobby, restrooms, two holding cells, conference room, kitchenette and community room.

The Police Department, formerly at ground level, experienced significant damage in 2007 and last year. It's now on thesecond floor.

The mold was discovered during duct cleaning. Two local companies have been hired to do the remediation and replace ductwork, Hoffman said. Areas are being quarantined as the work is being done.

Air-quality levels did not require employees to be relocated, Rose said. Also, no asbestos remediation is required.

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Mold remediation being done at Mount Holly Municipal Building