METHUEN, Mass. – After learning that AFSCME members have experienced headaches, coughing and other health problems for years, newly elected Local 3699 President Bill DePardo made improving the air quality at Methuen City Hall an urgent priority.

Union members raised serious concerns about health dangers in the building during a February meeting, and members voted unanimously to request environmental testing as soon as possible.

City officials didn't respond to emails and hand-delivered letters sent by the union during March, according to Lisa Kushinsky's detailed report in the Eagle-Tribune. After another request from the union on April 7, officials realized the urgency of the problem.

AFSCME Local 3699 President Bill DePardo.
(Zac Bears/AFSCME Council 93)

But DePardo believes dangers to workers' health should have been dealt with long ago.

"Everybody's safety in the building made it immediately important for us to address this," DePardo said in an interview. "I think city officials understand the urgency now, but they neglected to do anything about it."

For years, Tricia Rosanio, Local 3699 secretary and Methuen DPW employee, has experienced breathing issues, which she said developed in 1998 after she began working in the building.

"I basically have environmental asthma," Rosanio said in an interview. "I took my dogs for a mile walk at lunch, and I was fine. But I came back and couldn't walk up and down the stairs."

Tricia Rosanio and Bill DePardo.
(Zac Bears/AFSCME Council 93)

Others also reported similar respiratory issues, sinus infections, dizziness and headaches.

"We have six women who have worked here who have had breast cancer," DePardo added.

Methuen Mayor Stephen Zanni said he wants to make sure that air quality isn't dangerous to the health of city employees. He promised a "pretty intensive" test for air quality and mold.

Rosanio said that city officials don't know what they will do to house workers if something is seriously wrong with the building. DePardo added that he thinks the city is more concerned with where city workers will move to than the safety of those workers in the current building. Two non-union city hall workers have already thanked DePardo and Rosanio for pressing the issue.

The problem stems from a room formerly used by city assessors to house records, which officials quickly cleaned, closed and told workers to avoid at least 12 years ago, according to Rosanio.

Former city assessor's storage room at Methuen City Hall.
(Zac Bears/AFSCME Council 93)

"I go to buildings and tell the owners to fix code issues within 24 hours if it's considered a public health hazard," Heidi Conlon, a Methuen code enforcement officer and AFSCME member, said.

City officials sent out requests for proposals in late March, and IndoorDoctor, a private company, estimated costs of up to $10,000. The company sent a team to City Hall on April 12 but didn't conduct testing due to an unsigned contract.

DePardo said that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Indoor Air Quality program could test the air quality for free on May 19.

"I just want to get it done," DePardo said to the Eagle-Tribune. "If they would have given me this to do a month ago, I would have had it done already."