Loading...St. James’ Gleason Hall Recap — August 3, 2014
From Joe John, Junior Warden
As you walk by Gleason Hall, it’s not a pretty site and it’s definitely not pretty beneath the stonework. I will recap what has happened to our Parish Hall.
As Don Apgar and I had mentioned in a joint letter to the congregation in May, back in the dead of winter, we had some fascia stone on Gleason Hall fall off by the ramp that the pre-school uses and that incident, naturally, created potential safety issues as well as problems for building integrity.
We had one stonemason take a cursory look, but he was involved in other projects. David Gleason recommended a local stone mason, Jack Hurd, who immediately began a very thorough assessment by literally climbing all over the building.
Jack took the original blueprints we had stored and reviewed them — quizzing us on numerous building issues. He then took the initiative to go visit the architect, blue prints in hand, to find out what the causes could possibly be that were creating the problems we were experiencing.
The major problem: WATER — the necessity of life and also a home-and-building wrecker. Water seeping behind the stones, rusting the wire mesh and thus making the stones subject to failure — and that was just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.
Let me fast forward to the construction phase. Once Jack was under contract with us and began his construction, every day, a new problem was exposed. Literally every stone he has taken off has exposed rotten wood, loose mortar joints, and potential hazards for additional stones to fall off the building.
We’ve had several meetings, on site, with the contractor, the original stone workers, and an independent structural engineer who had been recommended by Tom Tri to come in and help coordinate the review and important next steps of triaging our building. The structural engineer, Joe Lenzi, has done a remarkable job of recapping all of our meetings and detailing our next steps.
Over the past course of numerous on site meetings, I’ve been assisted by Tim Beamer, Ed Heymann, and David Gleason at various times to demonstrate to our visitors that the Vestry representing the congregation’s concerns and interests is committed to bringing this problem to closure and that we are a united front. Thanks to these gentlemen for being around for that moral support. It has been a bit nerve wracking to say the least and the extra eyes and ears have been beneficial in moving the project along as well as keeping me focused.
This past Thursday, July 31, was the meeting of all meetings. The contractor, his foreman, the architect, our church insurance adjuster, Mr. Lenzi, Jack Hurd, Ed and David were here assessing the problem, and determining next steps.
We are all in agreement that safety is the issue, and we all agreed that Jack must continue to work on the parapets and the two stone columns — there was no push-back at all from the attendees.
This coming Tuesday, August 5, the contractors will be drilling test holes on both sides of Gleason Hall to provide the Structural Engineer and the Architect a view to gauge the integrity of the bearing walls, and what water damage there may be on the outside and whether or not it has compromised the inside of the Hall.
There are many more moving parts to this situation that are too detailed to share with you at this moment.
Trust me that the Vestry members believe we are moving in the right direction. We do believe those builders and engineers are just as concerned, if not more so, about Gleason Hall as we are.
I can also assure you that we have exercised restraint, have not done finger pointing or even breathed the word litigation. We’ve been very Christian-like and I’ve even bitten my tongue on numerous occasions — I’m sure that comes as a surprise to those of you who know me. We just have to believe that there will be resolution and equitable resolution for our congregation.
However, to put your mind at ease, we have, indeed, been in touch with the diocese and we are currently taking the necessary steps needed before we seek assistance from the Diocesan architect and the Chancellors.
As a member of the Vestry, I along with other Vestry members recognize our fiduciary responsibility, to protect the assets of our Church and to ensure the protection of the welfare of our congregation.
I will conclude by restating that Mr. Hurd will continue rebuilding the parapets and columns while the architect, contractor, and the insurance adjuster determine the extent of any further damage to our Parish Hall. Hopefully, we will get more answers and direction after Tuesday’s meeting.
Let me conclude with a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer:
57. For Guidance
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Peace+
Joe John
