HONESDALE, PA — Just when it seemed things couldn’t possibly get worse for the Honesdale borough police, an announcement was made at the June 5 borough council meeting: toxic mold growth in the police station has made it an unsafe workplace.

Announced jointly by Department Of Public Works Director Rich Doney and Police Chief Rick Southerton, the black mold was described by a building inspector as so obvious and widespread that costly air and building materials testing is unnecessary. The inspector recommended immediate start of a comprehensive mold remediation program to include removal of contaminated sheetrock, carpeting, flooring; sanitation of walls, corners and crevices; and application of mold inhibitors. Total cost for phase one of the remediation project, first floor cleaning, is estimated at $15,570.

Second- and third-floor cleaning would follow at additional cost. But Southerton emphasized that remediation comes with no guarantee; mold growth could soon recur. Said Doney, “It’s an old building with a dirt floor basement. Dry wall is not recommended with dirt floors, but at some point it was put up.”

Rising damp, a condition common in castles and buildings with dirt floors, occurs when moisture from soil rises by capillary action into masonry or sheetrock walls and becomes trapped there, spurring growth of organisms that thrive in a soggy medium. In addition to the black mold, the police station basement walls are sprouting mushrooms.

The council agreed that remediation must begin as soon as possible. Until its completion, Councilman Mike Dux suggested that Southerton, whose first-floor office is most impacted by the mold, relocate to an office in borough hall, lest his health be negatively affected. “I’m glad you feel that way,” said Southerton. “I thought maybe you’d found another way of getting rid of me.”

Southerton was joking, but underlying his words is concern for the welfare of his department. Since Mayor Melody Robinson relieved him of responsibility for duty roster scheduling (without his knowledge or consent), the number of shifts without borough police coverage has increased dramatically. In May, one third of all shifts were canceled for lack of coverage.

Councilman Bill Canfield claims that Honesdale is the only municipality in Pennsylvania where the police chief is not responsible for scheduling officer duty rosters. Southerton told the council that Robinson, who was not present, has repeatedly ignored his scheduling suggestions, often filling shifts with no supervising officer in charge. That, said Southerton, has made oversight and discipline of officers virtually impossible.

It is also one of the reasons Canfield decided to resign from the council. In a statement made before the meeting began, Canfield said he felt he’s failed the people who elected him four years ago because he’s been powerless to stop disintegration of the police department and mismanagement of other borough resources by council members elected two years ago. Saying he planned to resign at the June 19 council meeting, Canfield promised to be a gallery gadfly thereafter, and then left the building.

Canfield and Southerton were not the only critics of Robinson’s police scheduling. Michele Minor-Wolf, executive director of Victims Intervention Program, a nonprofit organization devoted to aiding victims of sexual attack, domestic violence and human trafficking, said uncovered borough police shifts have negatively impacted her organization, the victims it serves and the shelter it operates. She asked the council why the mayor’s authority in police matters supersedes that of the police chief. President Mike Augello said the council had no authority over the mayor. Minor-Wolf asked, “Does anyone have authority over the mayor?”