COUNCIL OKS $136,000 CONTRACT TO CLEAN UP MOLDS AT T.O. LIBRARY.

Byline: Enrique Rivero Daily News Staff Writer

The Thousand Oaks Library's nagging mold problem is heading toward a solution as a contractor prepares to clean out the spores that sickened library staff and forced a stop to earthquake and roof repairs.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted 4-0, with Councilwoman Elois Zeanah absent, to approve a nearly $136,000 contract with Anaheim-based CST Environmental Inc. to clean up the penicillium and other molds from walls, carpeting and other parts of the trouble-plagued library on Janss Road.

Workers have been banned from the library since the discovery in September of the penicillium and other molds suspected of making library staff members sick.

"We should be starting in a couple of weeks, and it's a 30-day contract," said Ed Johnduff, special projects and programs manager for the city. "The whole thing should be done by the middle of April."

The library's air and surfaces will be tested after the cleanup to ensure that the potentially hazardous mold has been cleared away before contractors will be allowed back inside to continue fixing the leaky roof and damaged ceiling, Johnduff said.

To clean up the mold, CST will have to remove and dispose of contaminated interior wallboard, baseboards, insulation and carpeting; clean the facility's air-handling units; and perform a "deep" cleaning of all internal surfaces and air in the library, Johnduff said.

In September, the city suspended repairs to the earthquake-damaged ceiling and the library's chronically leaking roof after tests confirmed several varieties of mold that are believed to have produced ailments ranging from respiratory problems to rashes among library staff.

The testing was prompted by complaints from library workers, who suspected that the library carpeting had become moldy after being drenched with water when the ceiling sprinklers broke during the January 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

Library personnel and material were moved to City Hall's old quarters at 2400 Willow Lane in June to expedite the ongoing repair work, which in turn was halted Sept. 11 with the discovery of the mold.

Repairs to the library had been expected to be completed in April but that date was pushed back six months after the mold was discovered.

Library staff had been allowed back into the damaged building shortly after the quake, and continued to work for nearly 18 months while repairs were under way, library director Marvin Smith said.

Over a week during that period, staff members handled thousands of rain-soaked books that had sprouted the mold, Smith said. It was during that time that many staff members may have been exposed to particularly high levels of the mold.

COUNCIL ACTION AT A GLANCE

The Thousand Oaks City Council took the following action Tuesday night. Councilwoman Elois Zeanah was absent.

ARTS PLAZA: Voted 4-0 to send the Performing Arts Center Board of Governors' request for Civic Arts Plaza signage back to the board to develop alternative marketing options that do not deviate from the city's sign ordinance.

ECONOMY: Voted 4-0 to endorse an economic impact study of the Civic Arts Plaza on the city and surrounding communities. The study will be conducted by UCLA's Anderson Graduate School of Management at no cost to the city.

401 HILLCREST: Voted 4-0 to authorize City Manager Grant Brimhall to proceed with an evaluation of how best to sell off or use the abandoned government center at 401 W. Hillcrest Drive.

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Box COUNCIL ACTION AT A GLANCE (See text)