As the Morristown & Township Library prepared for a Thursday re-opening, state Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco (R-25th Dist.) promised answers to what caused the powerful explosion that forced closure of the facility last May.
“We’re not going to accept no for an answer,” he said Wednesday at a press conference inside the library in Morristown. “We’ll keep pushing and asking until we get the answer…we can’t have this happen again.” (Video: Around the 10 minute mark.)
It’s already happened twice. A 1994 explosion that shut down the library for six weeks never was solved, although Jersey Central Power & Light paid a $35,000 settlement in that case.
Alert librarians evacuated the library moments before the May 3, 2010, explosion, averting potential tragedy.
PARTIAL RE-OPENING ON THURSDAY
At 1 pm on Thursday the 2006 wing of the library will re-open to the public. The central 1933 wing is likely to re-open this spring, after re-wiring is completed, while the heavily damaged 1917 wing probably won’t be back in service until late summer, said Robert Russell, architect for the library.
The mayors of Morristown and Morris Township, Tim Dougherty and Scott Rosenbush, made brief remarks welcoming back the library and praising the librarians’ swift action last spring. (Video: Around the 1:30 mark.)
Maria Norton, the library’s newly promoted director, said it felt good to be back and she offered special thanks to Fire Chief Gary Desjadon for the department’s fast response in May. (Video: 6 min., 45 seconds.)
Library trustees at the press conference included board President Nancy Bangiola, former Morristown First Lady Debbie Gotsleben-DeLaney and town Administrator Michael Rogers.
With so many agencies involved in the investigation, Michael said, it’s no surprise that things are taking a long time.
“You have to be patient,” he said. “I would rather be more thorough in the analysis. But there needs to be some cause identified–however long it takes.”
NO ANSWERS IN SIGHT
Assemblyman Bucco’s father, state Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-25th Dist.), said he awaits the outcome of the investigation from the state Board of Public Utilities.
Yet neither lawmaker could say when that might be, and both acknowledged that the BPU’s precise role in the probe was not crystal-clear to them. The Assemblyman said it was not the legislators’ place to interject themselves into an investigation.
Robert Russell said the investigation has been coordinated by the Travelers insurance company, the library’s insurer. The company has collected all pieces of evidence–switching gear, electrical conduits and even broken doors, he said.
Interested parties–including JCP&L and Public Service Electric & Gas, which both have denied causing the May blast–have been invited to the library at specific times when evidence is gathered, he said.
“Everyone all comes at once,” said Robert. Some evidence collection was delayed until the damaged basement floor was demolished, he said.
The architect smiled when a reporter asked what caused the explosion.
“Something blew up,” he replied. “I’m here to put it back together, not figure it out.”
PICKETERS AND OLD LETTERS
Earlier on Wednesday iron workers picketed outside the library, protesting the use of nonunion workers and questioning whether the subcontractor was fulfilling safety requirements and paying workers the prevailing rate of $70 per hour, reported The Daily Record.
Maria Norton, the library’s newly promoted director, said the protest was misguided.
“They were at the wrong location,” she said. “We pay the prevailing wage.” Robert Russell confirmed that.
Robert and Maria also said they have discovered documents pertaining to construction of the 1917 wing that will inform their efforts to restore it.
The information is contained in correspondence between the late Grinnell Willis, a retired textile merchant who was the library’s chief benefactor, and iron worker Samuel Yellin. The letters are at the University of Pennsylvania, Robert said.
On Tuesday, iron workers began installing steel to shore up the ceiling of the blown-up basement in the 1917 wing. That work should be finished next week, enabling electricians to start re-installing switching gear, Robert said.
Sen. Bucco expressed hope that a “bigger, better” library would emerge from the disaster.
