The crumbling former Health Mart in Monessen moved one step closer to demolition Thursday.

In a unanimous vote, and with no pushback from anyone in the audience or at the council dais, city council passed a motion to collect bids for the demolition and removal of the building at 500 Donner Ave.

Bids are due March 23.

During public comment prior to the vote, resident Ernie Telegraphis asked “What funds do you have, if any at this point, to demolish the building?”

“The bottom line is that we do not have the money to demolish that building,” the mayor told Telegraphis and other audience members. “There was a grant that was applied for — ironically by (former mayor) Matt Shorraw — to renovate that building. The renovation costs of that building were so much greater than the amount of money that he had available that it was no longer a viable option.

“So we requested — and it is likely to be approved (by the state) on the 23rd of this month — the change of that grant from renovation to demolition.”

Mozer said the grant, which was awarded through the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s Blight Remediation Program, provides $199,648, and does not require the city to put up any matching funds to use it.

Telegraphis also asked Mozer to talk about an asbestos study done at the building and to clarify whether there is an aquifer under the building, as has been speculated by some in town.

Council voted last month to hire Ritenour and Sons Construction to conduct asbestos testing at the site as soon as Tuesday at a cost not to exceed $2,500.

In response to Telegraphis’ request, the mayor said the city has “been trying to do this as honestly and transparently and openly as we possibly can.”

“We filed with the State Historic Preservation Office. We’ve received clearance from them that it has no historic value,” Mozer said. “We’ve gone to have samples done of all the asbestos … basically the only thing that’s there (in terms of asbestos) is

DEMOLITION • A2 FROM A1 a little bit of caulking around the windows and the contractor will be required to address that issue.

“… The water in the basement — all indications are that there’s no aquifer underneath that. All the books and things we’ve looked at, every record we’ve seen.”

The mayor said the building once used to house a spa and that the basement area in question “was built like a swimming pool, the best that we can tell.”

“And hence with all the holes and the runoff through the walls and through the roof over the years, it’s been full of water for many, many years,” Mozer said, adding that the city had the standing water in the pool-like area tested for asbestos and lead.

“The water tested clean,” he said. “We’ve met all the environmental requirements, the bid will be advertised in the newspaper tomorrow. Because we have until the 23rd, we’re gonna do things the way that you’d normally do things. We’ll be totally open and transparent.

“… On the 24th (of March) we should be able to award the bid to the winning bidder and it is off to the races.”

With a look of satisfied surprise on his face, Telegraphis said “this is good news. I didn’t know you got this wrapped up, so to speak.”

“We’ve been working very hard on this,” the mayor replied. “This has been very visible and you cannot close down a main road in town and expect to just live that way.” As a result of bricks and sandstone crashing down from some of the higher parts of the building in recent weeks, PennDOT ordered the closure of one lane of traffic nearest the building and the closure of Fifth Street, cutting off parking for some businesses.

Monessen’s next regular council meeting is slated for 6:30 p.m. March 24.

Also during Thursday’s meeting, council held a moment of silence and passed a condolence resolution to “recognize and mourn the passing of one of (Monessen’s) most dedicated, devoted and hardworking public servants, the Honorable James. A. ‘Mayor’ Sepesky.”

The former mayor passed away March 1. He was 82.

“Always known as a gentleman and a voice of decorum and reason in the rough and tumble world of politics, he inspired and mentored many to enter the world of public service, and to work with him to assist and help the residents and community of his beloved city,” Mozer read from the resolution, which cited many of Sepesky’s accomplishments and contributions to Monessen. “His intelligence, kindness and dedication will be sorely missed, and on behalf of all citizens of the City of Monessen, we offer our sincere condolences, sympathy and offer of strength to the family, friends and colleagues of the ‘Mayor,’ James A. Sepesky.”