Porter’s office closed as search for new office continues
Current building condemned due to water damage
Operations have been suspended for the rest of the week for District Judge Eric G. Porter after his Charleroi office was condemned Wednesday.
A water line break collapsed ceilings and flooded the building at 416 Fallowfield Ave., rendering the structure uninhabitable.
A search is underway for a new location for Porter to conduct business.
Borough Manager Joe Manning suggested using the borough building at 338 Fallowfield Ave. as a temporary location at council’s meeting Wednesday.
Councilman Larry Celaschi said such a move had been attempted in the past, but insurance issues arose, including the lack of a separate entrance for the office. The steps also posed a problem.
Celaschi said he suggested potential borough locations to the Washington County Court Administrator’s office.
Manning said he attempted to contact the borough’s insurance broker and insurance carrier but had not received a response as of early Thursday afternoon.
Representatives from the court administrator’s office were in Charleroi Wednesday to assess the situation.
“They were pretty adamant about trying to get something open at least for Monday so they could get back to hearing cases,” Manning said.
Porter, who was recently reelected to his second term, handles cases in Allenport, Bentleyville, Charleroi, Dunlevy, Elco, Fallowfield Township, Long Branch, North Charleroi, Roscoe, Speers, Stockdale and Twilight.