Jim Thorpe Borough is beginning 2023 by looking to eradicate a mold issue in Memorial Hall.

Council President Greg Strubinger said the remediation work will mostly be focused on the office area where its public services manager and streets supervisor currently work. While the borough has plans to renovate the building, including major heating, ventilation and air conditioning work, the part of the building where the mold issue is happening would not be part of that project.

“We had been moving forward with ALM Abatement Services LLC, who was going to do the work, but they notified us they are no longer going to be in operation, so we’ll need to move in a different direction,” Strubinger said.

Public Services Manager Joseph Bolesky said several contractors have been to the site and will be submitting estimates to the borough.

“The issue in my office was mostly due to a leaky window that was allowing water in,” Bolesky said. “We’re getting numbers for everything including getting that window repaired. We will try to do as much in house as we possible can, but some of it we’ll have to contract out.”

Until the mold issue is resolved, Bolesky said he and Michael Schoch, streets supervisor, have been limiting the time they spend in their respective offices.

Councilman Jay Miller urged Bolesky to operate out of office space at the borough water plant until the mold issue can be resolved.

“If this isn’t done within a week, I think you should get out of there,” Miller said.

When the larger Memorial Hall project is complete, Bolesky’s new office will be in the renovated part of the building and Schoch will be moving to an office in the new public service garage.

“Regardless of that, the part of the building where the mold issue is needs to be properly maintained and that includes the HVAC system,” Strubinger said.

Bolesky said there may have been previous water infiltration and air flow issues in a stairwell that led to mold growth.

“We try to keep all the doors open to the greatest extent possible to try and circulate the air but it may be a little too late in those efforts,” he said.