Phasing in Windows at Station More Costly; Slows Mold Cleanup – WHAV News

The first of three phases of window replacement is taking place at Haverhill Police Station, 40 Bailey Blvd. (WHAV News photograph.)

Black mold is appearing throughout the Haverhill Police Station as a result of leaks from low-quality, misfitting windows installed in 1999, police said. (WHAV News photograph.)

A mistake made 17 years ago when the Haverhill Police Station was constructed is not only proving costly today with the replacement of windows there, but made even more expensive by what, some officials term, a piecemeal approach.

The city, attempting to stay on budget and spread out costs over several years, is replacing a third of the windows at a time. Its an approach criticized by police officers because water leaks from remaining windows and resulting mold mean a delay in clearing air quality issues. Haverhill Purchasing Agent and Energy Manager Orland Pacheco confirmed the staged approach.

Right now, whats ongoing, based on the bids this office sent out, only does one-third of the windows. I think the concern is doing the project in phases will make the overall solution a lot more expensive, Pacheco said, paraphrasing police.

In an interview requested by WHAV last week, Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro explained the buildings original contractor improperly sized all of the window openings at the police station. This meant the originally intended, commercial-grade windows could not be used. Inferior, off-the-shelf windows were installed instead, did not fit properly and were placed without proper supports and insulation.

The full extent of the original poor installation was revealed when contractors arrived recently, opened the walls and found haphazardly installed shims supporting the older windows. Worse, the chief said, windows on both sides of brick columns cant be replaced at the same time because a whole column of brick between them would collapse. He summarized the 1999 building project as criminally negligent.

Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro said recent window replacement reveals the originals were poorly installed with no insulation and makeshift supports.

DeNaro said the first phase of installation costs $350,000, but replacing windows all at once would have cost $1.1 million. Now, he said, estimates suggest it will costs more than $1.5 million to complete the project.

Pacheco explained why replacing the windows in three stages, rather than all at once, could cause costs to rise.

Its a lot of scaffolding for that project that has to come up and come down. In addition, DeNaro said, replacement of the remaining two-thirds of the windows in the future likely means higher costs due to inflation and bond interests costs. Pacheco said, however, interest rates could go down.

As WHAV reported in 2015, a study by the state Department of Health found the police station requires substantial indoor and outdoor repairs because of chronic moisture infiltration and visible microbial growth.

Haverhill Police Patrolmens Association President Rick Welch said the union received a promise from Mayor James J. Fiorentini mold cleanup would take place continually until all of the new windows are in place. He said he accepts the offer, but believes it would have been better to change all of the windows and address mold all at once. Superior Officers Association President Robert P. Pistone agreed, saying, commonsense says why would you begin to waste money on mold remediation?

We cant get rid of the mold until we get ready of the water, the chief added. Pacheco said he agrees with the chiefs logic

Obviously, you want to mitigate water infiltration into the police department. That is the end goal, I think, because otherwise you havent really solved the problem, Pacheco said.

The building was constructed in 1999 at an initial cost of $6.6 million. Donham & Sweeney, Boston, served as architect; Palladium Construction Corp., Wakefield, was general contractor and DM Berg Consultants, Needham, performed engineering services. A subcontractor declared bankruptcy during construction, delaying the buildings opening a year and after concerns about leaking roofs and poor workmanship.

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Phasing in Windows at Station More Costly; Slows Mold Cleanup - WHAV News