Residential Blasting Cancelled After Public Outcry

Millburn-Short Hills residents received welcome news at a public forum Wednesday night — no explosives will be used in Short Hills. 

Mayor Sandra Haimoff announced, her and Committeeman Theodore Bourke met with the builders, Stanley and Amy Burakovsky Wednesday morning, who decided to change the building plans excluding the use of explosives. 

"This is how government is supposed to work," Assemblyman John McKeon said. "It's a credit to all of you."

According to the mayor, the contractor, Grabowski Construction, plans to raise the house at 30 Dorison Drive and will have to apply for an additional variance in front of the Zoning Board.

"We've all learned the laws of New Jersey as in terms of blasting and this is just one instance that has managed to go to the Zoning Board," Committeeman Thomas McDermott. "So I think it's important that we get some discussion to create regulations."

State Sen. Dick Codey and McKeon were on hand at the forum to hear the views of the community and bring the suggestions to Trenton.  

"I strongly urge our state legislators to take a look at this law and to do something to make it more restrictive on residential blasting," Haimoff said, urging residents to contact their state legislators where she stressed the laws need to be changed. 

According to Codey, the state's department of labor had proposed changes the law but it was turned down by administration because it was unfriendly to businesses. 

Residents suggested implementing a supplemental local ordinance for blasting. However, township council cited case law where New Jersey law supersedes any local regulations and if brought to court, the supplemental ordinaces will be thrown out.

The mayor explained, if the the plans meet state laws, the local fire inspector is required to approve builders' plans. If not, the inspector would lose his or her license.

The committee did agree to look into the creation of a local ordinance to deter contractors from blasting because it would require them to take the township to court.