WEST POINT, NY - As part of an ongoing Army-wide effort to resolve unsatisfactory conditions in Army family housing, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point will hold a town hall to provide information and gain feedback at Eisenhower Hall today.
Garrison Commander Col. Cecil Marson will provide a status report on the housing inspections that were initiated in November 2018 and will answer questions from West Point residents regarding housing concerns.
"Our goal is to provide healthy, safe housing in accordance with industry standards that is operated transparently. The key to success is early engagement from leadership on hot button issues raised by tenants. The town hall will be the first step in ensuring concerned residents understand the procedures for submitting issues to build their confidence in the entire West Point team." said Marson.
In order to look into concerns identified last fall and to assess the current status of West Point family housing, the garrison commander assembled a team to conduct a thorough and transparent review of the identified homes. The team consisted of Garrison Command Group, Safety, Department of Public Works, Government Housing Office, Preventative Health and Industrial Hygiene from Keller Army Community Hospital.
The homes with health-related claims had air, water, soil, paint, mold, and asbestos bulk samples collected from inside, outside and around the quarters. None of the environmental sampling results exceeded NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Department of Health or Environmental Protection Agency standards. Testing for lead based paint and asbestos containing materials were negative. Air samples for asbestos were also negative. Radon results were below the EPA action level. No chemicals detected in the drinking water exceeded the EPA or NYSDOH maximum contaminate levels.
Sixteen homes were also inspected with the following results:
- Visible mold was found in nine of 16 homes visited; square footage varied, but most areas were less than 3 feet by 3 feet, which is the EPA standard for occupant-level maintenance.
- Potential for water-intrusion issues identified in 14 of 16 homes visited.
- Clogged gutters and drains observed; water not dispersed away from the foundation, evidence of past pipe breaks.
- Limited resident-owned dehumidifiers were seen in use, despite persistent water-intrusion issues.
- Sewer-like odor noted in some homes; natural gas leaks not detected.
- Two mold related work orders were reported in occupied homes.
- No mold related work orders in vacant homes.
The inspection team found several preventive maintenance issues: HVAC filters, traps, and ducts were not cleaned. The team's observations generated 56 additional work orders not reported by residents prior to the visit of which 13 were moisture related issues.
Moving forward the garrison has or will implement the following actions:
- Work orders generated by the home inspection team were processed and completed.
- Written mold/water abatement sampling/analysis plan has been completed but need to review, refine and adhere to written protocol to include certified inspectors, equipment, supplies, and training.
- Use current team to establish initial On-Post Housing System Review board that will meet monthly to evaluate status of complex challenges, outstanding maintenance issues and communication challenges as well as establish a battle rhythm into the future.
- Create methodology for concerns which come from the OHSR board to get resolution at a higher level in a timely manner.
- Establish Quality Control and Quality Assurance Surveillance Programs that samples work, reports to management and improves the inspection and maintenance process.
- Improve the local housing quality assurance surveillance plan by having the GHO conduct more quality assurance, by revisiting the incentive fee metrics to make them more quantifiable and more tied to customer satisfaction to allow for transparency between the Garrison and Balfour Beatty Communities.
- Update annual housing checklist to include inspections for; asbestos, the radon system, chimneys, pest control, safety issues, gutters and downspouts, servicing HVAC units to include installing, at a minimum, acceptable industrial standard filters.
- Require an inspection for electrical renovations by an International Association of Electrical Inspectors or National Certification Program Construction Code Inspectors.
- Provide residents with an online comment card system to evaluate service after work orders are completed.
"Our enduring obligation as Army leaders is to take care of our people -- our Soldiers and their families," Marson said. "Their health and welfare are of the utmost importance to our Army's readiness."
About West Point
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal, liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as the world's premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission remains constant-- to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the U. S. Army. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.
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