Firework limits set in Scarborough

 SCARBOROUGH — The back-and-forth on consumer fireworks that has preoccupied the Scarborough Town Council since last summer may soon be at an end. In the latest iteration of ordinance controls on the newly legal product – which have previous ranged from no regulation to a total ban – the council has agreed to allow use of the noisemakers on just five days per year: Dec. 31, Jan. 1 and July 3-5. Sale of consumer fireworks would be allowed year-round, and Harvey Rosenfeld, president of the Scarborough Economic Development Corp., has said he is working with a retailer interested in setting up shop in town.

However, the Town Council has agreed to relax punitive measures against owners of any an animal normally called for in the noise ordinance if disturbances can be “reasonably” tied to fireworks noise. That provision was added after commercial kennel owners in the area complained that they could be held responsible for a simple reaction to somebody else’s noise.

“We had a lot of testimony,” said Ordinance Committee Chairman Carol Rancourt. “There has already been some negative adverse activity in town due to some people not being responsible fireworks users.”

A public hearing on the new rules was set for the March 7 council meeting, after The Current’s deadline. Unless tabled by the council based on comments, the ordinance rules could have been passed that night, as well.