Source: http://www.nj.com, December 7, 2016
By: Fausto Giovanny Pinto
A former environmental officer is suing Paterson Schools, claiming the district mishandled numerous environmental issues like mold and asbestos removal in violation of federal regulations.
Brenda Zemo, an Environmental Occupational Health and Safety Officer since 2008, claims she was subjected to a hostile workplace after she raised concerns about the alleged mishandling of the material by the Facilities Department and its Executive Director Steve Morlino, according to the lawsuit.
She claims she was let go by the department after she filed the complaint.
The only female employee at the department, Zemo’s role was to ensure the district provided a safe and healthy work environment for about 23,000 students and 5,400 staff.
During several instances, Zemo claims Morlino disregarded her advice to hire outside contractors licensed in abatement and improperly undertook actions at the school in violation of federal safety regulations.
These allegedly include:

• Having unlicensed school staff remove asbestos tiles inside a classroom at School 12
• Improperly storing asbestos material at the school facilities site on 200 Sheridan Avenue as opposed to a proper landfill
• Having untrained staff remove mold at various schools including P.S. 25, P.S. 24, P.S. 10, P.S. 4, P.S. 30 and the Boris Kroll Mill Building.
• Improper installation of an HVAC system at 5 Colt Street, which housed the HARP and YES academies, leading staff members to complain about feeling ill due to a mildew odor at the building.
• Construction debris and dust being left at the 5 Colt Street site in violation of Indoor Air Quality Standards.

During the 2014-2015 school year, Zemo was tasked with testing lead levels in water at district schools. Her information was handed off to Morlino, who then presented it to district supervisors, chiefs and principals, the lawsuit states.
When it was determined in February that principals and superintendents did not pass on the information to parents in 2015, Morlino allegedly tried to blame Zemo for the oversight.
Superintendent Donnie Evans sent a letter to parents in April, apologizing for not notifying them about the lead issue.
Morlino was the director of facilities at Newark Schools from 1999 to 2014, during which time the district allegedly failed to change water filters leading to elevated levels of lead in drinking water.
After Zemo filed a hostile workplace complaint with the district, she was reassigned to the school business department in May. They later deemed her report “unfounded” and on June 3 Evans told Zemo that her contract would not be renewed for the following school year.
Zemo is suing the district for an order or reinstatement or compensatory pay and an order from the district banning Morlino and other employees from retaliating against her.
A lawyer of Zemo did not return a request to comment. Morlino and Terry Corallo, district spokeswoman, did not return emails seeking comment.