After the roof at the Temple Israel building on Clubhouse Road in Vestal collapsed on Sunday night, officials say that an annual inspection gave no indication of any issues that would have led to the collapse. Code enforcement officers check the building annually, particularly because of Hillel Academy, which was housed in the basement. Town of Vestal officials are still investigating the cause of the collapse, and an engineer reviewed the building on Wednesday, a review that will likely provide vital information as the temple looks to move forward. The building still needs to be stabilized, even if a cause for the collapse cannot be determined. At this time, officials believe the cause may have been ice build-up on the 46-year-old building’s flat roof. Flat roofs, mostly found on commercial properties, generally use pipes and strainers to drain off any excess water, but if the strainers become clogged, freezing temperatures can lead to snow build-up which can cause a collapse. While the building is being assessed, no one is permitted to be inside. The Hillel Academy reconvened for classes Wednesday at Temple Concord on Riverside Drive, where they will be for the remainder of the academic year. The school serves thirty students from pre-kindergarten to grade five.
