MECHANIC FALLS — The council Tuesday approved, with amendments, a consumer fireworks ordinance and agreed to send the amended ordinance to a public referendum in November.

In response to public comments received at the August public hearing, the council approved two major amendments to the proposed ordinance.

The first was a stipulation that allows people to set off fireworks on Friday and Saturday evenings, year-round, from sunset to 10 p.m. This is in addition to the list of holidays included in the original proposed ordinance.

The second amendment specified that the distance from combustible structures at which fireworks could be set off should be increased from 100 feet to 150 feet.

At the August hearing, councilors heard complaints from many of the more than 60 residents in attendance to the effect that the downtown area of Mechanic Falls sounded like a battle zone most nights in July.

The council also learned that the majority didn’t want the town to ban fireworks outright, but would support reasonable restrictions.

The amended ordinance is now in effect, and will remain so unless voters fail to ratify it at the ballot box Nov. 6.

In other action, the council voted against establishing a policy allowing nonprofit organizations to raise money by setting up voluntary toll booths on public roads.

The issue was raised at a June public hearing when Craig Carey, representing the Mechanic Falls, Minot, Poland Loins Club objected to the council’s suggestion that the traffic ordinance be amended to ban setting up voluntary toll booths.

The council’s problems had to do with liability and the cost of liability insurance for nonprofit organizations wishing to conduct the toll booths.

The council discovered that while major nonprofits, such as the Lions Club, could add a rider to existing liability coverage at minimal cost, it could cost smaller, truly local nonprofits, lacking such coverage, more to pay for the liability insurance than they could raise through the voluntary toll booth.

In other business, the council awarded the contract for a John Deere loader to Nortrax of Westbrook, the lowest of six bidders, at $73,000 with an extended warranty.

The council also appointed Matthew Grise to the town Recreation Committee; Mary Martin to the RSU 16 board of directors to replace Terri Arsenault, who recently resigned. Martin will serve through June 30, 2013.

The council also signed an agreement with Poland for sharing public works services. The agreement establishes a schedule for the hourly costs for the use of the various pieces of equipment owned by the two towns and the workers, and calls for detailed quarterly reports.

Copy the Story Link