Officials say city can't stop fireworks

June 23, 2004|by LAURA ERNDE

Hagerstown officials said Tuesday there's nothing they can do to help neighbors of Municipal Stadium who complained about three consecutive nights of fireworks planned for the July 4 holiday weekend.

More than 30 people who live near the stadium signed a June 15 letter asking the Hagerstown Suns minor league baseball team to limit the fireworks to one night.

A copy of the letter was sent to the Mayor and City Council.

City Administrator Bruce Zimmerman said there's nothing in the Suns' lease with the city limiting fireworks' displays. Fireworks permits are granted by the Maryland Fire Marshal's Office, he said.

This year is unusual because the Suns have home games scheduled for July 2, 3 and 4.

"It's just one of those things where the stars came together. There's nothing the city can do," said Councilman Lewis Metzner.

No one from the neighborhood spoke at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

The letter to the Suns said, "three nights in a row are too many for those of us who live close by to endure the deafening noise, the smoke and the debris fallout."

The Suns notify neighbors in advance of the fireworks by handing out leaflets within a three-block radius, Zimmerman said. The discussion prompted the city to take a closer look at its regulations governing fireworks. Zimmerman is going to do some research and the Council will take up the issue again at a future meeting, he said.

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