Fire Addition 'Soundness' to be Tested

A structural engineer will test the "soundness" of the two-story 2,500-square-foot firehouse addition at Enterprise Fire Co. to determine if the building is safe to occupy.

The Hatboro Borough Council on Monday night voted 7-0 to authorize hiring 
Roman C. Jastrzebski of Chalfont-based Jastrzebski Engineering, Inc. to carry out invasive testing and gather soil samples under the building's footings.

The $20,800 contract is the latest in a series of tests and building inspections that the borough has carried out after having "sufficient data and reason to believe there are structural deficiencies," according to borough solicitor Christen Pionzio.

Pionzio said the structural testing is expected to take 10 to 12 weeks to complete.

Work ceased on the long-awaited project about a year ago, but the borough's volunteer firefighters have not been able to occupy the building because of ongoing concerns, which were first raised last year. Volunteers are still meeting in the original building's cramped quarters.

Barring litigation, the borough could be out more than $1.4 million for the project, which began in spring 2011 and was originally supposed to conclude in August of that year.

Without an occupancy permit, the borough's previously committed $500,000 state grant is on the line. 

"That's why we're getting the testing done," Council President John Zygmont told Patch. "We have to be able to occupy the building to get the money."

In light of the borough so far fronting roughly $800,000 to Bensalem-based contractor Titanium Inc., plus legal and building inspection fees, Zygmont said "currently we're all right" financially. To date, Hatboro has spent $1,389,814.63 on the project - not including the most recent $20,800 contract. 

Pionzio has said that she intends to recoup monies through litigation.