Brockport battling another possible hazardous situation

The possibility of frozen and broken pipes, flooding, a catastrophic fire hazard and even a dangerous chemical problem have all been tied to the former Kleen Brite property at 100 Fair Street.

Assistant Building Inspector Larry Vaughan reported to board officials that the department has been monitoring the situation at Kleen Brite since late summer. "The building was supposed to have been cleaned out and we don’t think that has happened," he said. Vaughan reported that the buildings are not being supplied with heat or electric and they are equipped with sprinkler systems that could burst if they get frozen. "The possibility of flooding could go on for days before anyone noticed it," he said. "We need to take action against the building owners to allow us access to the building."

Code Enforcement Officer Scott Zarnstorff said he has been in contact with James Manno, the property owner. "They have very little money to maintain the property and they really haven’t done much to comply with our requests," he said. "There are still chemicals remaining in the building and they need to respond to our requests for a maintenance plan."

Police Chief Dan Varrenti said if the possibility exists that there may be chemicals inside the building, the Department of Environmental Conservation should be called in. "There are any number of public health agencies that could obtain warrants and get in there," he said.

Obtaining voluntary compliance from the owner would be the easiest, and least expensive, way to go, Zarnstorff said.

The building has been abandoned for more than 18 months and it presents an unsafe, dangerous public nuisance, Vaughan said.