Representatives of the OYO Hotel were granted a reprieve until 1 p.m. Tuesday to show progress on 19 pages of code violations brought forth at a hearing Friday morning before the Bradford City Board of Health.
The rooming license of the facility was suspended last week due to numerous code violations.
Ashok Bhatt, regional manager for Millstone Investment which owns the property, was present, coming in from San Francisco to address the matter. City administrator Chris Lucco presented the case for the city, while health officer John Peterson was the judge for the hearing.
Lucco began by spelling out the city’s case.
“On Tuesday, Oct. 17, health director Michael Cleveland approached me about multiple serious code violations at the OYO Hotel,” Lucco said. “Most notably, the inoperability of the majority of exits.”
Exits were chained shut, screwed shut or otherwise inoperational. Lucco said more inspections were done, including on Oct. 23 and 24, and many more code violations were found.
Bhatt opened by saying, “Negligences have happened and we apologize for that. Most of the work which was required was completed already,” he said, referring to the earlier inspection by Cleveland. “A new list was provided yesterday and I immediately took action. I have instructions to my people to do the job. I went straight to Home Depot and purchased all the items for the imminent issues.”
He noted he wished to cooperate fully with the city, and said his employees were warned not to lock fire doors or remove smoke detectors. “We are doing the best we can,” he said. “We are supporting the local low-income community.”
Bhatt added that the goal is to be able to sell or lease the building to someone local.
Cleveland was the first to the stand, addressing issues with the building itself. Included are that fire doors should be operational and paths should be clear, the chain blocking the fire escape should be removed, smoke alarms need to be operational, exit signs should be lighted, an exterminator is needed for a severe cockroach and bed bug infestation, the roof needs extensive repair or replacement, windows need to be in place, the sidewalk must be evaluated and repaired and the brickwork on the McDonald’s side of the building is “in dire need of repair,” he noted.
After explaining a certified letter had been sent to Millstone in San Francisco and was received, Cleveland said the clock starting counting on when repairs needed to be made.
Lucco asked, “Have any of them been addressed?”
Cleveland looked over the list again, said the exit signs were lighted and a burned receptacle was partially replaced.
“In the past when you have found violations, did you work well with management to give them time to address them?” Lucco asked.
Cleveland said yes. “Due to the age of the building and the age of the systems, it’s not as easy as going to the hardware store to get replacement parts.”
He added that while there are multiple issues, the biggest problem is the staff blocking fire exits.
“I was not aware of them innocently doing that,” Bhatt said.
Lucco objected, saying Bhatt could ask questions, but not testify. Bhatt then asked Cleveland for suggestions to address the doors.
“Potentially cameras,” Cleveland said. “It’s my understanding from the staff that occupants of the building were letting people in who weren’t supposed to be in the building. My suggestion would be cameras or even buzzers on the doors.”
Property maintenance officer Brandon Plowman testified next, authenticating a 19-page list of code violations found at the OYO, and reading a synopsis of it. He said there were 68 people living there — 37 adult males, 25 adult females, six juveniles including a child as young as 3, and a total of 27 pets — 18 cats, eight dogs and one guinea pig.
The main concerns, he said, were unsafe or inadequate electrical, heating, sanitation and plumbing. The existing code violations showed a “complete disregard for the safety of the occupants and visitors,” Plowman said. He detailed live electrical wires near water, overloaded electrical systems with space heaters because the heating system isn’t adequate, a threat to passersby from loose bricks; sinks, tubs and toilets not working; crumbling plaster, peeling paint, water damage, 40 windows missing or broken and more.
“The fire escape is barely secured to the building and not capable” of serving its purpose, he added. Lucco said it is being held on by a ratchet strap.
Property Maintenance Officer Travis Crawford took the stand, presenting a thumb drive with more than 400 photos taken of the code violations in and around the building.
Bhatt called only one witness, Julie Tipton, who identified herself as office personnel at OYO. She detailed several areas where they have started with repairs, and several where they were working to get estimates.
In his closing statement, Bhatt said, “We were unaware of these issues. We are taking prompt action. The number one priority of the fire exits, before I leave this city, we are putting in those cameras. The other violations, any and all electrical issues, the paint, the ceiling and broken things, as my witness Julie said we are in good progress and on top of the issues now.”
He added that Millstone had taken quick action when they learned of the issues. “No one wants, including me, this building to be shut down. I will hope you restore the license of the building.”
Peterson said, “As health officer, I am deeply concerned and troubled by the infestation problem. You have no quotes, no movement to eradicate the problem. The other is hot and cold running water, which are basic necessities of life.”
He mentioned the other problems too, including the wiring. “If you read that report, all of these are life safety issues. I have a major concern for the nearly 80 people, the pets and the guinea pig.”
Peterson took a short break before reconvening the hearing. He said he would take the matter under advisement, would ask the health director and property maintenance to inspect the OYO again on Halloween, and reconvene a hearing at 1 p.m. Tuesday to see what sort of progress had been made before making a decision.
