By Dave Wedge
The Boston Herald
BOSTON — Quincy officials have slapped the Boston Fire Department with a building code violation for a new house that sprung up on Moon Island, while the Hub fire commissioner’s office dodged questions about the flap.
BFD officials say the two-story structure is a ‘prop’ that will be used for training, but balked at allowing Herald reporters to tour the new building yesterday. The house, which was built on the Quincy-owned island over the past several months, appears to have new windows, shingles and siding.
BFD spokesman Steve MacDonald said it also has Sheetrock walls inside and will be equipped with solar panels, all of which will be used for firefighter training.
But yesterday, Quincy Building Inspector Bruce Knapp fired off a letter to BFD Commissioner Roderick Fraser citing the department for a building code violation for failing to obtain a permit. The letter orders the department to ‘cease use’ of the structure and apply for a permit and a ‘certificate of occupancy.’ The BFD has 45 days to appeal the citation.
Quincy officials inspected the building yesterday after the Herald reported the BFD built the wooden house without a permit.
MacDonald provided no information on the cost of the building, other than to say it was built out of a ‘training budget.’
He also had no information on whether Fraser knew it was being built or why it was not put out to public bid.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s spokeswoman, Dot Joyce, said the project ‘was done unilaterally out there by the people who run the training facility.’
Quincy and Boston have feuded for years over Boston’s activities on the small harbor island, most recently in February, when Quincy blocked a wind turbine backed by Menino.
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