NORWAY — A Norway woman who is spearheading a drive to ban the recreational use of fireworks from town will continue her efforts, despite being unsure how many signatures she will need to place the referendum question on the June 2015 annual election ballot.

Nancy Hohmann, of 420 Crockett Ridge Road, fell just short of the minimum 235 signatures necessary by Sept. 11 to have the question placed on the November gubernatorial state election ballot.

Now Hohmann will have to get a minimum of 10 percent of whatever the Norway voter participation is in the November election, Town Clerk Shirley Boyce said.

Hohmann gathered 190 of the 235 necessary signatures of registered voters by the Sept. 11 deadline to place the question on the Nov. 4 state ballot. The required number of 235 was based on the state gubernatorial election four years ago, when some 2,350 voters turned out.

“If there’s less participation, she would need less votes,” Boyce said. “If there’s greater participation, she would need more.” 

In July, Hohmann presented a letter signed by scores of people to the Board of Selectmen, asking for a town ordinance to restrict or ban fireworks.

The board advised her to circulate a petition that would request the question be placed on a ballot as a referendum question. But to ensure it was on the November state election ballot, officials told her she must have a minimum of 235 signatures on the petition, ready to present to the board at its Sept. 11 meeting.

“We were short a little bit,” Hohmann said. “We had 190 signatures. We needed 235. We had a number of people working hard and we were not discouraged, because the signatures are all good, and we’re going to continue collecting signatures.”

The sale of consumer fireworks became law in Maine in 2012, prompting some towns to draw up ordinances banning their use in certain areas of cities or in entire towns. The legislation to legalize the sale, possession and use of fireworks was created to promote new businesses and jobs, but some residents say it has simply become a nuisance and a danger.

Hohmann and other letter signees told selectmen that fireworks can cause physical and emotional harm to people, animals, livestock, wildlife and companion animals. They can also cause epileptics to have seizures and can cause discomfort for asthmatics.

Around the time fireworks became legal in Maine, police Chief Rob Federico told selectmen complaints had risen from about three the previous year to 12 by the middle of 2012.

Federico said at that time that fireworks had been a problem in the Norway Lake area and North Norway for years prior to their legalization.

Police said between Jan. 1, 2013, and Jan. 1, 2014, there were 15 fireworks complaints. There has not been a significant increase since that time, police said.

“We intend to continue getting the signatures and then it will come for a vote in June,” Hohmann said.

ldixon@sunjournal.com

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