By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009).
Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone
Edgewood's 10th Anniversary Stamp
And, I didn’t just fall off the turnip wagon. Those who have read my articles about the problems with the Edgewood library, have no doubt, heard or read of other information calling into question facts or suppositions I posited in my articles. I am interested in adding to what I have stated in my previous articles to prove what I know is the truth, rather than to address any statements which have relied on erroneous information from self-interested parties.
I had visited the building containing the library many times when the space that is now the library was the setting for a fitness/aerobic exercise facility. During the time I participated in the classes offered by the then owner of the building and the fitness/exercise facility, I was able to build some free-standing benches and a free-standing cabinet for the facility. I was a registered business owner and had a Construction Industries license which allowed me (if I wished) to build such components as allowed by my license. I also visited other parts of the building to speak with other business owners from time to time. My point in mentioning the foregoing is to prove my familiarity with the building.
A short time prior to the Town of Edgewood’s lease of the building, I was able to visit the building and take digital images of the space where the library is now located. The exercise area was eventually converted into several offices with each office having its own entrance. Altogether, I took several images in trying to understand what made the space attractive as a potential library. I could see potential problems facing any occupant of the building, not the least of which were problems which would face any contractor who attempted to remove walls and install lighting and other electrical fixtures and units.
After I visited the building to take photos, I voiced my concern at Edgewood Town Council meetings and cautioned against rushing to secure library space in the building. However, with the Council’s advice to the Mayor to complete the permitting and inspection of the building, I assumed everything would be done as required by law or regulation. As we all know, there are questions about work completed on the library as to compliance with law and regulations. That is where we stand at this time and there is more to said about whether work on the library did or did not need permitting and inspection.
To illustrate what existed before the remodel of the library space, the following image will show the hallway as it existed when I took all the photos mentioned above. The image is looking in a southerly direction down a hallway through a door that opened into the main hallway for the building. You can see that there is a part of a fire sprinkler system mounted next to the wall on the right and almost against the ceiling of the hallway. To the left one can see doors that open into adjacent offices and the west walls of those offices.
Image Taken Prior To Remodel
Try to concentrate on the left wall and the ceiling as they play a role in the next image. The next image will show what is a part of the ceiling in the above image. It will also show the computer array and three support posts which replace the left wall in the above image in holding up a load from above. Notice the thickness of the part being supported by the posts. I believe you will find a laminated support beam or beams running the length of the structure the posts support. It is possible that duct work or other components, rest inside of, or on top of the supported structure. Also seen to the right of the area are lighting fixtures which did not exist prior to the remodel. The wall directly to the rear of the computers is the wall shown on the right in the above image.
Computer Array On 10/23/09
I have emails from Town officials that involve questions of electrical work and the information certainly indicates that the electrical work was extensive and amounted to more than four electrical plugs being replaced or installed. I have other images showing more lighting and other details which should have required permitting, but for now I am happy to see any discrepancies remedied (including ADA requirements) and to have the responsible party or parties admit the mistakes made about the permitting/remodel. And, I would hope that any failure on the Town’s or anyone else’s part isn’t compounded through more errors or mistakes in judgment … or worse, untruthful responses.
Finally, it would have been nice to have everything completed as required and we had not had some involved ducking and darting about in an attempt to damper down their part with the non-compliance issues. It will be nice if we can take a lesson from this and maybe know that sometimes a journey is taken toward wrongdoing with well-intentioned, but misguided steps.
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All the two pictures appear to show is that a non-load bearing wall was removed and replaced by posts. If memory serves correctly, much (though probably not all) of what was removed was not in place when the fitness center occupied the space, but was installed to accommodate the subsequent occupants, a real estate operation. It is not clear what may or may not be in the supported structure; do you have any specific information on that? Also, can you cite a particular section of the code or other requirements that would mandate that a permit be obtained for that particular structure?
“The Cocoanut Grove was a nightclub in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. On November 28, 1942, the fashionable nightclub burned in what remains the deadliest nightclub fire in United States history, killing 492 people and injuring hundreds more. It is also the second-worst single-building fire in American history; only the Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago in 1903 killed more (602). The tragedy shocked the nation and briefly replaced World War II news headlines. The fire led to a reform of fire codes and safety standards across the country and prompted a seminal study of grief. The club’s owner, Barney Welansky, who had boasted of his ties to the Mafia and to Boston Mayor Maurice J. Tobin, was eventually found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.” Source: Wikipedia
A Green Tag, Yellow Tag, Red Tag, and the National Fire Protection Association NFPA
Green Tag: This means the work as met minimum compliance with NFPA standards
Yellow Tag: Work done, was not in compliance with NFPA standards
Red Tag: Work has created a Hazard to Life and Property.
Go to the WEB, look up the issues involved around the Coconut Grove fire. Think about the 492 people that burned to death, and the hundreds that were condemned to live their lives disfigured. Think of parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters, devoted to the life long care of some victims. Those that should have investigated the suitability of the Coconut Grove for a Night Club and didn’t, but chose to resolve the issue politically. For most of them it was jail, financial ruin, suicide, or life long guilt, their lives, and lives of their families changed forever.
The Mayor, and some of the Town Council and staff knew there were problems when they leased the building. Then some, without having a real understanding of what the problems might be, chose to ignore them, and to make matters worst circumvented further investigation by refusing to permit the project. The mumbo-jumbo from town officials that they worked with planners’ and determined that no permit was needed is misleading to say the least.
The Construction Industries Department has a very clear policy, Permit the Work, period. Be it one or one-thousand 2 x 4′s. It is sad that the very people we expect to enforce laws, and codes, seem to use their office to circumvent the same. This type of behavior sets the stage for yet another Coconut Grove type incident, be it one year or 20 from now. Personally I’m fed up with this type of behavior, be it Edgewood or Washington.
It’s never an issue, until it’s an issue.
Name withheld