Courthouse A Hazard For Workers, Jurors
Historic Building Crumbles Along With City Budgets
POSTED: 6:13 am EST March 6,
2009
UPDATED: 7:09 am EST March 6,
2009
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TAUNTON, Mass. -- The workmanship on the historic Bristol County Courthouse, a national landmark, is extraordinary but the copper roof has leaked for years and the walls inside are crumbling.
Courthouse Dilapidated, Dangerous | Photos: Court Disrepair On the top floor plywood covers a gaping hole in the ceiling and water damage stains the walls. The Superior Court building desperately needs renovation and doing nothing is a public injustice according to those who work there."I've been in that building when pieces of plaster have literally fallen to the floor during a trial,"said Attorney Jim Fagan, who is also a state representative for Taunton.Court employees told Team 5 Investigates' Rhondella Richardson that being called for jury duty at the court house is like being sentenced. Employees say the jury room is deplorable. The juror's bathroom is deteriorating. The bathroom floor is missing tiles and lawyers argue it's downright unsafe."It's justice on the cheap ... if my wife or daughter had jury duty in those turrets I'd be worried just because of the fire hazard involved," said Attorney Frank O'Boy, a regular in the courthouse.Team 5 investigates found that despite the obvious damage, when Richardson asked for local and state inspection reports, she was told there were none. Team 5's questions about the safety of this court sent fire prevention officers into action. Inspectors went to the court and came out with a list of code violations --improperly installed drop ceilings, crumbling walls and antiquated electricall wiring in the building. Gasoline was improperly stored in the basement, in snow blowers and lawn mowers, and the elevator inspection had expired.Taunton Mayor Charles Crowley said, "The disrepair you see in this room is a result of neglect for years."After a fire inspection sparked by Team 5 Investigates, cosmetic improvements were made but, a long-term fix is elusive. The federal stimulus package won't help because the project doesn't qualify as shovel-ready. The necessary major reconstruction isn't even being drawing board right now. The state could take it over but, there's no guarantee it would fix the problems.Bristol County doesn't have the tens of thousands it would cost to fix the roof.So for now, band-aids are the only affordable options to keep the grand old building alive and safe.
Courthouse Dilapidated, Dangerous | Photos: Court Disrepair On the top floor plywood covers a gaping hole in the ceiling and water damage stains the walls. The Superior Court building desperately needs renovation and doing nothing is a public injustice according to those who work there."I've been in that building when pieces of plaster have literally fallen to the floor during a trial,"said Attorney Jim Fagan, who is also a state representative for Taunton.Court employees told Team 5 Investigates' Rhondella Richardson that being called for jury duty at the court house is like being sentenced. Employees say the jury room is deplorable. The juror's bathroom is deteriorating. The bathroom floor is missing tiles and lawyers argue it's downright unsafe."It's justice on the cheap ... if my wife or daughter had jury duty in those turrets I'd be worried just because of the fire hazard involved," said Attorney Frank O'Boy, a regular in the courthouse.Team 5 investigates found that despite the obvious damage, when Richardson asked for local and state inspection reports, she was told there were none. Team 5's questions about the safety of this court sent fire prevention officers into action. Inspectors went to the court and came out with a list of code violations --improperly installed drop ceilings, crumbling walls and antiquated electricall wiring in the building. Gasoline was improperly stored in the basement, in snow blowers and lawn mowers, and the elevator inspection had expired.Taunton Mayor Charles Crowley said, "The disrepair you see in this room is a result of neglect for years."After a fire inspection sparked by Team 5 Investigates, cosmetic improvements were made but, a long-term fix is elusive. The federal stimulus package won't help because the project doesn't qualify as shovel-ready. The necessary major reconstruction isn't even being drawing board right now. The state could take it over but, there's no guarantee it would fix the problems.Bristol County doesn't have the tens of thousands it would cost to fix the roof.So for now, band-aids are the only affordable options to keep the grand old building alive and safe.Copyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
