Weeks after the owner had planned to start demolition of the vacant Seymour Lumber building, the project again has been delayed.
First Selectman Kurt Miller told the Board of Selectmen Sept. 2 the setback is because the original contractor lacked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training required to complete the job.
Miller said contractors Park Trucking and F. Pepe Construction did not have the 30 hours of OSHA training needed to complete the removal. Special training is required for the demolition because of asbestos in the building.
“I was shocked that the company that they initially contracted with that the operators did not have the OSHA training,” Miller told the board members.
Miller said Tkacz is seeking a contractor with the proper training.
Selectmen expressed frustration with the delay, because the building has been cited by the town for blight and it’s unclear when anything will be done at the site.
“This year?” Karen Stanek asked Miller, regarding an updated demolition date.
Miller said he couldn’t guess.
“This situation is unacceptable,” said Selectman Al Bruno. “It’s really an eyesore in our community and it needs to come down.”
In July, the state Department of Public Health reviewed the demolition plans to ensure that residents and people travelling on Route 67 (Bank Street) would not be affected by the asbestos.
