Wiscasset Police Administrator Lt. John Allen said his department has sustained significant water damage and needs to be temporarily moved until the police station office can be repaired, and requested the vacant superintendent’s building. After lengthy discussion, the board approved.
Police, fire, and ambulance crews spent Dec. 19 clearing out the police department office space after a heating system pipe burst.
Allen told selectmen during the Tuesday night board meeting on Dec. 29 they were unable to shut the water down for three hours. Hot water leaking down into the walls, over computers and paperwork and flooding the floor had caused considerable damage after an hour of uninterrupted flowing until a Wiscasset EMT noticed water washing beneath the police department office door into the ambulance center.
“It did a lot of damage,” Allen said, uncertain as to its full extent. “You can smell the mildew.”
Allen said he contacted the town’s insurance agency. Service Pro, a contracted company hired by the insurance agency, came to assess the damage, brought in equipment to dry out the office and removed a lot of the damaged material, such as the insulation and ceiling tiles. Allen said the heat from the water escaped up through the holes in the ceiling and through the roof. At one point there was over seven inches of water on the floor and the department lost computers, a copier and scanner.
A representative from the service company suggested the town act quickly, as the situation would get worse as time wore on.
Allen suggested his department be allowed to use the currently vacant superintendent’s building at 214 Gardiner Rd. (Rt. 27) for police services until the police office can be restored back to its original condition.
“Every single wall is soaked,” Allen said. “I don’t think we can safely move into another area.”
Some might suggest police move to another area of the municipal building, but Allen said all of the material from an evidence room and sensitive documents created during police interviews need a stable, secure area.
He approached the board to see whether or not moving into the former superintendent’s office was feasible and what other options might be available. Selectman William Curtis said he spoke with the insurance adjuster and timing was important as Allen had a company in place to make the transition.
“This really is an environmental issue,” Curtis said. “The longer you keep the wet stuff around, the greater the chances are for mold.”
Allen said Service Pro will be available to move all of the necessary equipment, radios, evidence and other sensitive documents at no cost to the town. The insurance company would cover the cost to move all of the police department material to the new location and back to the department when it has been restored. Allen asked selectmen if they would be able to make the move the following day, Dec. 30, as Service Pro is ready to do the work.
He also asked whether the company should remove the outer wallboards, up three to four feet from the floor or remove entire outer sheets, from floor to ceiling. Allen told selectmen the company representative he spoke with suggested they remove just three or four foot sections, as removal of entire sheets would cost more.
The insurance company would cover the cost of repair, but removal of entire wallboard sheets would affect other sections of the inner office and workers would then be required to bring the whole mess up to code.
Selectman Pamela Dunning said the larger concern was relocation for police department staff and material.
Referring to the former superintendent’s office and how it would function for police departmental needs, she said, “You can’t take someone into custody there.” She asked Allen how long he expected the job would take and how long the police department would need the space at the former superintendent’s office.
Allen said he was not sure how much damage there was, as much of the outer wallboard is still in place and Service Pro workers need to continue the assessment. He was not sure how long they would need the new location, but granted it could take three or four months.
He added the superintendent’s office would provide enough room to conduct interviews away from the eyes and ears of the public. The department is hard-wired to the Sheriff’s Office and communication between the two would be feasible from the temporary location. He also said officers could hold someone at the jail [Two Bridges Regional Jail].
Resident Steve Mehrl asked whether or not the town had received a written statement from the insurance adjuster. Allen said the Service Pro personnel needed to continue with their assessment of the damage and taking the walls apart is one of the first critical steps in that procedure.
Town Manager Arthur Faucher clarified with selectmen that Service Pro would prepare the specifications with the adjuster in advance of the appraisal. When they have completed a final appraisal, the town can put the repair work out to bid. He said the insurance company would have a say in the bidding process, as it would cover the cost of repair.
The board meeting agenda also included a second rental agreement on the superintendent’s building from Cromwell Coastal Properties real estate agency. Selectmen had discussed the first rental agreement offered to the town by Julie Cromwell and decided the rent was too high.
“Under the circumstances,” Dunning said, “I’m glad we didn’t rent it [the superintendent’s office] out last week.”
Selectmen agreed they should postpone the rental agreement until a later date, considering the building would be used by the Wiscasset Police Dept.