Ossipee faces $25,000 estimate for 250th fireworks; town meeting to decide whether to fund

A presentation to the Selectboard included a firm $25,000 estimate for fireworks to mark the town’s 250th anniversary and general discussion about who would pay.

A town official said the cheapest available fireworks package for the celebration would cost $25,000. "Between the tariffs and the facts, it's a 250 anniversary of independence. The cheapest we can get fireworks for is 25,000," the official said. The Selectboard noted that the figure is a hard number and that the decision will be made at town meeting.

Board members discussed whether neighboring Freedom or Effingham might contribute. One board member said it was possible to ask Freedom to share the cost, but observed Freedom could decline because the event is open to the public and not restricted to Ossipee residents. Another board member said Effingham had previously agreed to contribute.

Members also discussed shifting the parking boundary to move vendor space and allow the contractor to use a different shell that would shoot higher and be more visible to people on the lake; that change would not raise the cost but could improve visibility.

No motion was made. The Selectboard indicated the expenditure, if any, would be brought to town meeting for a vote.