The Morristown and Township Library, closed since May 3 because of a basement explosion, has been granted its wish for an above-ground power transformer.
By a unanimous vote, the Morristown planning board tonight approved the library’s request for an above-ground, pad-mounted transformer that will replace service from transformers in an underground network that has been plagued by malfunctions and exploding manhole covers.
Jersey Central Power & Electric presented plans to supply power to the library from another grid that serves 1,000 residents. It would be tapped above ground on Miller Road, and then fed through new conduits that would be installed beneath Miller Road and connected to the pad transformer in the parking lot behind the library.
This arrangement would take about two weeks to complete, if the town approves, said JCP&L spokesman Ron Morano.
It would eliminate the need for JCP&L to acquire potentially costly easements to run overhead wires from property owners near the library, he acknowledged.
Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty welcomed the plan, with a caveat.
“I think it brings up two questions,” the Mayor said. “One is, okay, JCP&L believes this is the best way to bring electricity to the library. But at the same time, we need to look at the question of what is going on at the South Street network?”
There still is no official word about what caused the explosion, the second unsolved blast at the library in 16 years. The May 3 explosion, which caused extensive structural damage, remains under investigation.
Library Interim Director Maria Norton said books are being restored to shelves in the library’s basement history center, in anticipation of a partial reopening. She will be glad to see an above-ground transformer.
“We’re pleased to get the approval,” she said. “An above-ground transformer is a more conventional way of getting electricity. We’re happy to have it there.”
The town Historic Preservation Commission pushed for JCP&L to run the new lines underground, instead of stringing them from poles across backyards.
“The visual impact on the whole Historic District would have been much more serious than just putting a transformer behind the library,” said Marion Harris, vice chairwoman of the commission.
In any case, Marion was not sure how much more reliable the new connections will be. A transformer behind a law office on Maple Avenue “blew up” a few weeks ago during a storm, she said.
The library’s 2006 wing and history center–about half of the building’s floor space–could reopen using generator power. But town regulations only allow such a setup for 90 days. Maria Norton said she wants to make sure permanent electricity will be restored within that 90-day time frame before reopening with generators.
She expressed confidence that the partial reopening will occur this year. The 1933 section would come next. She doubts the badly damaged 1917 wing can be repaired before spring, however. Maria estimated damages are in the “couple of million” dollars range.
Asbestos removal finally was completed last week, she said. Water-damaged carpeting in the history center has been replaced, and books are being returned from temporary storage.
The library still must remove and replace damaged switching gear from the 1917 wing. Maria said the investigation may be expedited once experts are able to take the old switching gear for closer examination.
Maria said the library probably will hang onto its rental office on 88 South Street for the near future.
“We’re just trying to get as many books into people’s hands as we can,” she said.
