Board asks housing authority to explain extended mold exposure after resident relocated

The Bellingham Board of Health moved to invite the housing authority after members described prolonged mold exposure in a Center Street unit that forced a family into temporary hotel housing.

During health-agent updates, the Health agent said remediation was underway and that “we've relocated the resident and our family to a hotel for 4 days while the work is being completed today, and the drying out needs to happen over the next 3 days.” Committee members responded with concern about children’s health and the delay between notification and remediation. A Committee member said the household had been left in place for about three weeks after the problem was reported and called that “unacceptable.”

Board members pressed for both a mold-clearance report and confirmation of building-department permits before allowing the family back into the unit. The Health agent said she will contact the building inspector and follow up with the town’s contractor and with Hailey (building office) to confirm permitting and clearance. The board voted to invite the housing authority to an upcoming meeting to explain its actions and to schedule an emergency meeting if necessary to obtain answers sooner.

The motion to bring housing authority representatives passed after the chair called for the ayes. The board instructed staff to confirm whether the housing authority or a state agency funded and managed the property and to return with documentation of permits and clearance reports at the next meeting.