Council decides Greenfield fireworks ordinance will be left as is

GREENFIELD — Greenfield residents will still be able to shoot off fireworks within the parameters of state law in town, as the city council decided at their most recent meeting July 21 to keep their ordinance as is.

The council takes a look at the ordinance periodically to see if it best fits the community.

City Clerk Becky Haase told the council she only received a handful complaints from residents this year about fireworks following the July Fourth holiday.

Greenfield allows the same parameters as state law, meaning residents can shoot off fireworks from June 1 to July 8 and Dec. 10 to Jan. 3 each year from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays immediately before and after July 4, fireworks may be shot off until 11 p.m. On Jan. 1, fireworks may be shot off until 12:30 a.m.

“I know there are a lot of towns that have done away with them and there are a lot of towns that only allow them July 4,” Haase told the council. “It’s up to you with what you go with.”

Police officer Jeff LaBarge was present at the council meeting and said fireworks aren’t a major problem in the community except for those who illegally shoot them from the street.

Councilman Brian Fox wasn’t against fireworks but noted that there seemed to be more fireworks use this year, possibly because people have been home more overall due to the pandemic.

“All the fireworks places were sold out, is what I heard. It’s something for them to do,” LaBarge told the council. “It needs to be enforced better if you’re going to keep it.”

LaBarge agreed with council member Suzanne Wagner who asked if it’s true that violators of fireworks ordinances are hard to catch.

“If you ban them you’re really going to have an nightmare,” Councilman Rod McMorran added.