Oxford Employee Alleges Safety Issues At Town Hall

The town’s zoning enforcement officer said the three complaints she filed September against Oxford have nothing to do with the upcoming election.

“There is nothing political here. This has to do with health issues,” Anna Silva said.

Silva has filed complaints with the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Pomperaug Health District regarding poor air quality and the alleged presence of medical needles in town hall garbage bins.

Her third complaint alleges the town’s Health and Safety Committee did not provide minutes for a closed-door executive session Sept. 30 to discuss her other complaints.

First Selectmen Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers, CONN–OSHA and the Pomperaug Health District could not be reached for comment for this article.

Mold

Silva’s first complaint, filed Sept. 3 to CONN–OSHA and the Pomperaug Health District, cites poor indoor air quality at town hall.

Silva said she and other employees have been experiencing flu-like symptoms, headaches and sinus problems.

“This could possibly be triggered by mold spores and dust mites in the building’s HVAC system,” she said.

The complaint goes on to say that Silva informed Bob DeBisschop of the issues and was told the air duct system and carpeting had not been cleaned in eight years.

DeBisschop is the first selectman’s administrative assistant.

According to Silva, said she has opened windows in her office and purchased a fan for her desk — and has visited her physician several times for symptoms.

“It is necessary to provide a work environment that is healthy and safe,” she said. “That will greatly reduce the likelihood of chronic discomfort.”

DeBisshop said that work on the air ducts took place in September, adding town administrators made arrangements to have the duct system cleaned in August, prior to Silva’s claims.

“The duct cleaning was not in response to her issues,” he said.

Needles

The second complaint, dated Sept. 21, says Silva and custodian Stanley Pierwola had found approximately seven needles in the trash at town hall.

Silva acknowledged there are town employees who have medical conditions that require the use of needles and lancets.

Silva said she spoke to First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers several times on the issue for more than a year and was told it was addressed with the employee responsible, according to the complaint.

Silva obtained a sharps disposal container (a waste bin for needles) from the Pomperaug Health District and presented it to DeBisschop to be mounted on a wall, but says it is still sitting on the floor in a break room.

“To date this has not been done, and it is very unsanitary,” she said.

DeBisshop said employees have been informed to use the container, or to discard the needles in a plastic water bottle to be thrown away at home.

“There is a policy in place, and from what I am told, there have not been any sharps or syringes found in the trash since then,” he said.

The complaints were also sent to the town’s Health and Safety Committee.

Illegal Procedure Alleged

Silva’s Freedom of Information complaint claims the Health and Safety Committee went into a 45-minute executive session to discuss the two CONN–OSHA complaints without stating the purpose on the record.

According to the meeting agenda, town air quality was listed under new business, but meeting minutes filed on Sept. 28 indicate it was not discussed.

“The minutes do not reflect why they went into executive session and this is clearly a violation,” Silva said.

DeBisshop, who is a committee member, said Silva was verbally notified of the meeting’s agenda. He added he could not comment on the discussion in executive session but noted it did not relate to Silva’s issues.

“The discussion was not about air quality,” he said.

According to the state freedom of information act, an agency may enter executive session to discuss specific employees (although the employee may request the meeting be opened to the public), strategy and negotiations regarding litigation, security matters and real estate matters.