Borough exploring aerial firework ban
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - An aerial firework over the west end of Shenandoah on July 4, 2020.
SHENANDOAH – Since mid-May, the sound of fireworks soaring over the borough has been fairly common, and council is exploring its options to put a stop to it.
Borough Councilman Leo Pietkiewicz advocated for a ban on aerial fireworks in town.
“There is no respect for neighbors, there is no respect for their town that they’re living in,” said Pietkiewicz. “They light them in the middle of their street, off front porches.”
“We have to put our own bite into this and ban these aerials,” Pietkiewicz continued.
Pietkiewicz expressed concerns regarding the fire hazard aerial fireworks pose in a town as densely populated as Shenandoah.
Council President Gordon Slater asked Solicitor Jim Amato to look into an ordinance.
Mayor Andrew Szczyglak added that borough police are trying to enforce current fireworks laws as best they can, and reminded residents to report incidents to the Schuylkill County Communications Center.
“Please, if it’s annoying and you feel there’s a problem, please call the center so that we can have it documented and we could have the police respond,” Szczyglak said.
State law prohibits the discharge of fireworks within 150 feet of an occupied structure and from public or private property without the expressed permission of the property owner, which effectively prohibits their use within the borough.
About Author
It would be a welcome relief if an ordinance was created & followed by our law enforcement. The west end of town near the SV Campus, has been a never ending display of fireworks. Also in the Glovers Hill area. I get it that our Police force can’t be in 2 places at one time, but this year has been awful.