OLD TOWN – The city council is finally on the verge of passing a fireworks ordinance
Councilors have talked on and off for months now about an ordinance governing fireworks that is more restrictive than state law, discussing the issue several times in recent months, and a handful of other times prior to that in the three years since fireworks were made legal again in Maine in 2012. A draft ordinance was finally brought before the council last month by Fire Chief Steve O’Malley, which drew in large part on existing ordinances elsewhere in the state.
A first reading was held on the proposed ordinance at Monday night’s city council meeting. The ordinance would include a ban on the use of fireworks within 50 feet of any structure, be it a home, deck, garage or whatever – which would in effect not permit the use of fireworks on Marsh Island. It also would prohibit the use of fireworks after 9 p.m. on all but three nights of the year – July 4, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. The ban would not apply to displays given by companies licensed for pyrotechnics.
A second reading will be held on the proposed ordinance at an upcoming council meeting – perhaps as soon as two week, although it had not been scheduled as the Times was going to press on Tuesday morning. If approved by the council, the ordinance would go into effect ten days after passage.