Botched demolition to cost Monticello thousands

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The debris pile next to Village Hall.VICTOR WHITMAN/Times Herald-Record

Published: 4:26 PM - 10/09/13 Last updated: 4:29 PM - 10/09/13

MONTICELLO Last week's botched demolition of the Monticello justice court will cost the village thousands more to remove asbestos-laced debris from two sites.

During a shout-filled emergency board meeting Wednesday afternoon, Village Engineer John Fuller told trustees on speaker phone that asbestos wasn't dealt with.

The state Department of Labor is requiring the village to get a special permit that will allow it to remove a large debris pile next to Village Hall. Fuller also said the village is responsible for the debris that was hauled to at an illegal dump site off Fairground Road.

The Department of Environmental Conservation stopped the job after arresting six demolition workers last Thursday, accused of dumping the debris behind the Burnwell propane company.

We have to deal with it (the dump site), Fuller said. We are responsible for the debris because it is our debris.

Under questioning by reporters huddled around the board's desk, Fuller said the village surveyed the court building roughly 18 months ago. Village officials knew portions of the building, including the shingles, contained asbestos. While only a fraction of the court contained less dangerous non-friable asbestos, once the court was demolished the entire debris pile became contaminated.

The board voted to hire Hudson Valley Environmental for $2,200 to expedite the permitting process and monitor the debris removal. Fuller said the board must hire a separate contractor to remove the pile.

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Botched demolition to cost Monticello thousands