Is it safe to set off fireworks in Delaware Water Gap? Borough considers ban

Delaware Water Gap is considering a ban on fireworks in the borough.

At Monday’s council meeting, Council Member Lisa Paulette stated that, after discussing the matter at work sessions, and with residents, the council came to a consensus to ban consumer fireworks except for sparklers.

“There was great concerns expressed in [the last work session], and there’s been great concern expressed via phone calls, and visits to the office anytime that fireworks are set off in the borough,” said Paulette. “We are a very wooded area" and falling debris is a concern even for homes 100 or 150 feet away from fireworks.

Paulette also said that borough came to a consensus that display fireworks should be banned. She noted that displays can be seen nearby, such as at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area and East Stroudsburg's Dansbury Park. Display fireworks are set off by professionals within the presence of a fire company.

Delaware Water Gap council members from left to right: Derek Anspach, Terrence Fagan, Alternate Solicitor Deborah Huffman, President Jamie Levy, Vice President Zack Booth, Lisa Paulette, Jack Shoemaker and William Buzzard.
Delaware Water Gap council members from left to right: Derek Anspach, Terrence Fagan, Alternate Solicitor Deborah Huffman, President Jamie Levy, Vice President Zack Booth, Lisa Paulette, Jack Shoemaker and William Buzzard.

Deborah Huffman, the borough's alternate solicitor, stressed that banning fireworks within the borough would require a finding that there is nowhere that is 150 feet from buildings or vehicles, as required by state law for discharging consumer fireworks. Paulette answered that she consulted the zoning officer, Michael Manter, and she “would solicit him again for an absolute finding on what he thinks about that.”

“And if [Manter] says that that’s true, then I think you have something to stand on in trying [to ban consumer fireworks] and then we can put together an ordinance on that, but we need to have that information before you take action,” Huffman told Paulette, who clarified that she “wasn’t necessarily making a motion tonight,” and wanted to narrow down “what the majority of everyone thought was acceptable or unacceptable.”

According to state statute 2022-74, municipalities can place certain restrictions on the use of consumer fireworks. They cannot be restricted on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, New Year's Eve, and other surrounding days, provided the 150-foot distance requirement is met.

"I looked at municipalities, near and wide, and it varied all away across the board as to what they did and what they chose to do," Paulette said. "We have one or two municipalities near us that have altogether banned [consumer] fireworks, and altogether banned display fireworks. So it's a matter of what we can do; we talked about what we wanted to do."

After further discussion, the topic was kept on the agenda for a subsequent meeting.

Max Auguliaro is the public safety and government watchdog reporter at the Pocono Record. Reach him at MAugugliaro@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Delaware Water Gap: Fireworks ban considered in borough