Mold Sickened 15 Workers In Palisades Park Public Building: Reports

PALISADES PARK, NJ — More than a dozen Palisades Park employees are claiming mold in the borough's municipal complex made them sick and have accused officials of allowing the hazard go unaddressed for months, according to reports.

An attorney representing 15 workers who recently filed workers' compensation claims sent a letter Wednesday to Mayor Paul Kim and Councilman Jae K. Park, NJ.com reported.

In the letter, attorney Andrew R. Bronsnick said borough officials were first made aware of the issue in February and demanded "immediate action" to remedy the problem, the report said.

"The borough has failed to address our clients' medical and health complaints, and the ongoing issues expose all borough employees to harmful mold and environmental hazards," Brosnick wrote in the letter obtained by NJ.com.

He continued, "The continued failure of the borough to remedy the mold condition and the employees' exposure will result in additional medical injuries and damages. The borough will be held liable for failure to address the mold exposure and detrimental health concerns of our clients."

The letter was sent a day after NJ Advance Media published a story about the borough's director of public works ordering his staff to abandon their offices at the municipal complex, citing an unsafe work environment and dozens of fire code violations throughout the building.

In September, the Bergen Record obtained over 400 pages of emails and documents detailing health concerns among employees due to mold contamination and air quality.

According to the Record, more than 50 injury claims were filed to insurance due to illness caused by the building conditions and mold.

Borough Administrator Dave Lorenzo told the Record he sent several emails to the mayor and council asking them to hold special meetings and to take action against the hazards.

"This has been an ongoing issue for close to two years," Lorenzo told the Record. "Unfortunately, the mayor and certain members of the governing body have not authorized any actions up until this point."

Meanwhile, Mayor Kim blamed Lorenzo, according to the Record.

"The borough administrator is the main building guy; he should have followed the law," he told the Record. "He's saying the mayor and council didn't decide, but he should have just done it. Instead, he's saying it was the governing body that didn't decide."