Salem senior center to reopen after gas leak

SALEM — The Ingram Senior Center is expected to reopen Tuesday following a natural gas leak.

The center was shut down Monday after employees arrived at 8 a.m. and detected a strong odor of gas, Town Manager Keith Hickey said.

The fire department responded because of the potential health hazard. 

The leak was caused by a piece of ice that fell from the roof and struck a gas meter, Hickey said.

Snow and ice had previously been removed from the roof, he said,

Senior citizens, who had just started to arrive, were told activities were canceled for the day, he said. 

A team from Unitil worked for hours to repair the damage so the center could open its doors Tuesday, Senior Services Director Patti Drelick said.

By early Monday evening, town inspectors gave authorization for the center to open after Unitil turned the heat back on, she said.