Pastor/School Principal Accused of Asbestos Mishaps in Albany, NY.

An Albany resident who serves both as a preacher and school principal has been accused of illegally removing asbestos from one of his rental properties and of failing to tell workmen that they were at risk for asbestos exposure, notes a story aired on WNYT – TV.

The story identifies the Rev. Timothy Fowler, principal of Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology and senior pastor of the More Abundant Living Ministries, as the culprit. According to the report, Fowler failed to file a permit to allow asbestos removal nor did he hire a licensed asbestos abatement company to do the work. City Building and Codes Director, Jeff Jamison, notes the severity of the situation but says that Fowler is not currently facing charges in the incident.

Tenant Clave Kaleel, who has lived for the past 7 years in the first floor apartment in the building owned by Fowler, told news reporters that she never knew there was asbestos material coating the pipes and insulating the boiler in her basement. However, the tenant got so sick while workers were removing the asbestos that she wound up at the local emergency room.

“I just kept coughing and coughing,” said Kaleel. It felt like pepper was in my chest. It was burning like crazy.”

It was Kaleel who tipped off the state Department of Labor (DOL) in October when two men appeared at her door to remove the material, armed with nothing more than ordinary garbage bags. A stop-work order was eventually issued but Kaleel was not ordered to vacate the property. DOL spokesman Leo Rosales refused to comment on why Kaleel was not ordered to leave the property. Earlier this week, the city finally deemed the building unfit for habitation and told Kaleel to vacate.

Further reports showed that Fowler is now suing Kaleel for back rent but an attorney for the tenant says she will not be responsible for payment if the building has been judged as unfit for habitation.

In the meantime, Kaleel is concerned about her health and has scheduled an appointment at a pulmonary clinic where her lung function will be tested.  Asbestos exposure can cause myriad lung-related health problems including severe scarring, asbestosis, and the cancer known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma generally takes decades to develop and, once detected, is hard to treat and almost always fatal.