Morristown Mayor welcomes state investigation of library explosion
Posted by Kevin Coughlin on June 24, 2010 · Leave a Comment
The state Board of Public Utilities is actively investigating the May 3 explosion at the Morristown & Township Library, according to Mayor Tim Dougherty, who welcomed the news.
“I’m very happy that the BPU is actively investigating it… when they get done, we should have answers as to what took place and what remedies are needed to make sure this never happens again,” said the Mayor.
The Morristown & Township Library has been closed since May 3 explosion. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
He said he got confirmation from state Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-25th Dist.) that the BPU’s service and reliability divisions were conducting a “forensic investigation” of the explosion, which buckled concrete floors and resulted in closure of the library for an indefinite period. Library officials hope portions of the facility can reopen by Labor Day.
The Mayor said the BPU’s involvement should save the town the expense of hiring its own investigators.
A spokesman for Jersey Central Power & Light, Ron Morano, said the utility continues to cooperate with the BPU and the town. But he declined to characterize the BPU as the lead agency on the case.
“A number of investigations are going on,” the spokesman said. “We’re doing an investigation, the insurance company for the library is doing an investigation. The board is getting data from us and others,” he said.
Spokespersons for the BPU and and Sen. Bucco could not immediately by reached for comment.
