Missing Cable Causing Stir, Costing Borough Money

The borough is checking into a missing Hartley Dodge Memorial communication cable that hasn't been found since a wall was demolished as part of the renovation project.

Borough Administrator Ray Codey said the cable is at a cost of less than $1,000, but the borough needs to buy a new one when Verizon could have used the existing one if it wasn't missing.

The demolition contractor told officials that it was removed as part of their job with the borough, and that it had nominal value. The stance of the borough is that it should have remained.

"Our position is that the cabling remaining had value and should have been there after the wall was demolished," Codey said.

Codey said the borough has notified its insurance provider, and that the contractor and its subcontractor have also been notified. A file has also been opened up about the issue by the Madison Police Department.

The missing cable was discussed by Madison Director of Technology Jim Sanderson at the latest Borough Council meeting. Sanderson was addressing establishing a new line of demarcation with Verizon for Hartley Dodge, as the old demarcation panel existed in an area where the bottom of an elevator shaft was being constructed.

Codey said the borough has been working with Verizon to establish a new panel as soon as possible to reestablish communication capacity. He also said that the line would have needed to be established again in any case, but the existing cable could have been used.