Dear COBA Members;

With regard to the pending B Bldg Pipe Chase Project, COBA has been dealing with the County, our Maintenance Unit, DPW and the Independent Contractor this past week on this whole issue. Making sure they are following the proper guidelines and precautions since it was first deemed as a "cleanup/wipedown/remediation" then notices showed up stating it was an Asbestos Abatement.

The county was supposed to have supplied documentation as to the scope of the project but did not do so as of the close of business Friday.

As such, I had our attorneys prepare to file an injunction against the County tomorrow morning in State Supreme Court to stop the work from proceeding, pending our satisfaction that there was no exposure issues with our members

or even the inmates.

I advised the County of our intent to file for a restraining order in Court if we did not receive the proper information and documentation as requested.

Late yesterday, I was asked to join a conference call today (Sunday) with County Representatives, the head of DPW, his lead Engineer and reps from the 2 independent contractors performing the work.

In short order I was provided with the documentation they were supposed to have provided by Friday. The main document being the approval from the NYS Dept of Labor's Engineering Unit/Dept of Safety and Health. In other words another arm of the Dept of Labor's PESH (Public Employee Safety and Health).

The project meets all of the State Dept of Labor's safety requirements for employees and is actually a small project in scale that will enable a larger plumbing update project in the B Bldg Pipe chase without any concerns over asbestos.

The entire project will be monitored by an independent, licensed State Dept of Labor approved agency, not just County DPW.

To be clear, if we were not satisfied with the information we received, we would file a NYS Dept of Labor PESH Complaint along with a Health and Safety Class Action Grievance and the Injunction in State Supreme Court.

First and foremost would be the PESH Complaint. With this Conf call today, and via email, I was provided with the actual approval from the State Dept of Labor.

That means, if we had issues, we'd be complaining to the very same State Agency that provided approvals for the project in the first place.

The Dept of Labor approval means the project meets safety requirements and in this case actually exceeds what is required due to the nature of the site being a Correctional Facility.

As such, the project will commence tomorrow morning on B5 and work its way down. It's expected to take a day or so for each floor.

The inmates were moved from B4 and B5. When those floors are done, I have been advised that B2 and B3 will move up to facilitate completing the work on

the lower floors.

I hope this answers any questions regarding this project.

Brian Sullivan, COBA President