Board gets earful about private use of fireworks

TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. » The Town Board will review regulations regarding the use of fireworks that some residents traditionally have shot off a week or more in advance of Independence Day and for about the same length of time afterward.

The use of legal and illegal fireworks was discussed at a board meeting Thursday. Town resident Janet Schliff said fireworks create problems for children, pets and adults who find their peace disturbed.

“The frightening thing that’s happening now ... [is] the ones that are being sold under the tent,” she said, referring to seasonal roadside sales that recently became legal.

“We all know that ... dogs and cats are petrified by fireworks, and we understand that they’re going

to go off on July Fourth,” Schliff said. “But all the days before and all the days after, some people follow the rules and some people do not, and the ‘do nots’ are the ones that are shooting them off way ... later than the curfews.”

Schliff said people with post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries are particularly sensitive to fireworks.

“Also, small children,” she said. “I can only imagine what little children are thinking when this is going off way ... past bedtime.”

Ulster County lawmakers voted in April 2015 to allow the sale of sparklers and fountain-type fireworks. Six months earlier, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill that allowed counties outside of New York City to adopt local laws permitting the sale and possession of sparklers, caps for toy guns, snappers and party poppers during certain times of the year. Fireworks that are

fired into the air, explode or produce a “report” or loud bang are barred from public sale.

Ulster Town Attorney Jason Kovacs said after Thursday’s board meeting that the use of fireworks has become a problem.

“I have a 3-year-old, and he’s afraid of fireworks,” Kovacs said. “I do share her (Schliff’s) concerns, and it’s not just July Fourth, it’s a week before, it’s a week after, and I think even around New Year’s there’s a time to legally sell fireworks. So it is a concern.”

Town Supervisor James Quigley said he will discuss the issue with town police and said he would consider recommendations for dealing with people who use fireworks that are not in compliance with the law.

“It’s not an issue I have an easy answer to,” he said. “I didn’t realize the depth of the issue. We will do some research ... and we’ll have a discussion with the Town Board, once we have some information, to see if there’s some action plan that we can put forward.”