Assisted living facility shuttered

By Mark Reynolds
Posted 7/14/21

Lloyd Building Department Director Dave Barton offered the Town Board more information on the now closed Highland Assisted Living Facility at 1 Grove Street due to numerous code violations in the old …

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Assisted living facility shuttered

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Lloyd Building Department Director Dave Barton offered the Town Board more information on the now closed Highland Assisted Living Facility at 1 Grove Street due to numerous code violations in the old section of the building. He said the entire building is now unoccupied and residents will not be allowed back until the building satisfies the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code as well as any other interested entities, such as the state and county Departments of Health. The action in Highland by the state was triggered by a fire at another facility in Rockland County, which claimed the life of a firefighter.

Barton documented a long list of ongoing health and safety concerns at the Highland facility that prompted a slew of violations that were issued by his office: repeated false fire alarms being intentionally pulled by a resident and alarms going off due to the sanding of sheetrock near an alarm; fire doors on magnetic latches did not close; a second floor door is dragging on the carpet causing it to not close properly; a kitchen was removed without a permit; sheetrock placed over a live electrical box that caused a bathroom fan to seize and become hot to the touch; water from a flushed toilet on the 2nd floor leaked into another room; wet sheetrock and dryer sheets were found on a floor and in a ceiling; all exterior windows are in need of replacement due to rotting wood; window screens must also be replaced because they are either missing or damaged; all exterior PVC conduit is pulling apart allowing exposed wiring; a rear handicap ramp needs to be replaced and must meet the ADA code and a rear roof over the ramp needs to be demolished.

Barton noted issues with peeling paint, broken and cracked floor tiles, loose tiles in the shower area, the south staircase ceiling needs to be repaired, the floors of the public toilets and bathrooms require a smooth, hard and nonabsorbent surface. He listed numerous site work that needs attention: the construction of a retaining wall; blacktopping needs to be done as per their site plan; a knox box is upside down; upgrades are needed to the alarm system; water damage and mold is present in the ceiling of room 7 and east lower exit doors must be replaced as they do not comply with ADA requirements.

Barton said he and Deputy Building Inspector Anthony Giangrasso have had “interesting” conversations with the owner of the Highland facility. Barton is demanding that the old section be completely gutted to the walls, “because we don’t know what anyone in the past has done to the walls.”

Upon further investigation, Barton said they discovered details about the old section of the building, “that would make a sane person afraid to live there; real fire issues and fire violations.” Barton said the town controls the building while the NYS Department of Health is charged with the welfare and safety of the residents.

Barton said once the owner fixes the facility, he will conduct a thorough and complete inspection, “as if it is a new building. That way we’re relatively confident that the electric and the plumbing and everything else is up to code.” He said the facility will remain unoccupied until all of the violations have been satisfied. The facility’s owner of record is SJJP LLC in Lakewood, NJ.