Dogs trembling uncontrollably. Horses running amok, threatening themselves and their barns. In Bedminster, these are some of the results residents have reported due to the abuse of new personal-use fireworks privileges that are now allowed by the state.
The issue was a primary topic of discussion among officials, and several very concerned residents, during the July 12 meeting of the board of supervisors. Acknowledging the legitimacy of personal fireworks celebrations within time window and location regulations, the township’s police department pledged continuing discussion with offending personal users.
The problem seems to especially concern personal use of fireworks that are intended only for commercial displays, as well as violation of prescribed limits on uses in any case. Fireworks have been legal for personal use in the state only since 2017, with some revision in 2022. Residents especially reported concern with “cannons,” which were identified as “mortars.”
Supervisors directed the township solicitor to prepare ordinances that would at least allow for enforcement of stiff penalties for abusers, while the township manager called on residents to contact their state legislators to intervene on a larger scale.
“I’ve heard about this problem in numerous municipalities,” noted Solicitor Peter Nelson.
Township Manager Rich Schilling pledged to continue to contact homeowners associations (HOAs) to support their efforts to advise residents of applicable regulations.
He also called on residents to contact their state legislators to ask them to consider whether new tax revenue from the legalization “was worth” the problems it is causing.
The disturbance and disruption to human and animal life have been noted as starting as early as May, and continuing through the Fourth of July.
Also at the July 12 meeting, supervisors approved advertising for sweeping changes to the township zoning ordinance, described as the result of the most comprehensive such effort undertaken “in over a decade.”
The year-long review was noted as starting as correcting “tweaks” such as typos, and then moving into more substantive changes.
Among the latter are attention to what might be done to minimize or prevent recurrence of an unsuccessful challenge to an industrial odor nuisance, and creating new regulations for alternative energy uses.
In that particular regard, solar was noted as much more applicable for the township than wind.
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