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Residents urge stricter fireworks and noise enforcement; council discusses education and enforcement options
Summary
Multiple residents raised concerns about fireworks, late-night engine revving, "coal rolling," and storm-related safety at the July 10 council meeting. Councilors and staff acknowledged the concerns and said they would review enforcement and public-education approaches.
Several residents used the council's public-comment period on July 10 to press for stronger responses to noise, safety and storm-related issues. The most extensive public comment came from a longtime resident who described recurring and prolonged fireworks near North Bedford Street, and other residents raised related concerns about late-night engine revving, diesel "coal rolling," basement apartment flooding and neighborhood storm response.
What speakers said: Kathy Bear, 421 North Bedford Street, described repeated fireworks beginning before and continuing after July 4, continuing late into the night (as late as 3 a.m. on some nights), and said the noise was harming elderly neighbors, children and animals. She said she contacted the police and was told enforcement resources were limited. She urged the borough to address the problem and expressed safety concerns about pyrotechnics fired near houses.
Eric Smith (121 Southeast Street) told council he supports traffic-calming changes and bicycle parking standards and linked engine revving/drag-racing noise to two-lane, one-way streets; he welcomed the Wagner's Gap path and bicycle-parking rules. He also urged attention to the “coal rolling” practice (trucks deliberately producing heavy black smoke), which he and another commenter said can be a public-health issue; the mayor noted that some municipalities have adopted ordinances specifically banning the practice.
Jeff Adams (137 F Street) raised concerns about flooded basement apartments during a recent storm and asked whether such dwellings are legal and what steps the borough is taking to prevent unsafe units and to hold landlords accountable.
Council response and staff notes: Mayor Schultz and councilors acknowledged the fireworks complaints and said state statute and borough ordinance constrain fireworks use (for example, fireworks are not permitted within a set distance of habitable structures per state law) but that enforcement is challenging. Council members discussed public-education campaigns and modest enforcement approaches, while acknowledging limited police resources. The mayor requested staff to take another look at enforcement procedures and community outreach. On coal rolling, the mayor noted other municipalities have enacted ordinances to prohibit the practice and indicated the borough could research options.
Storm response and trees: Several councilors and the borough manager publicly thanked public-works, emergency services and mutual aid (North Middleton Township) for a quick response to storm-related tree damage; councilors described crews removing downed trees and restoring streets, and residents thanked crews for quick action.
Next steps: Council asked staff to review fireworks enforcement approaches and consider community education; the borough manager and staff will research potential ordinances and enforcement options for practices such as coal rolling. Council also recognized and thanked first responders and public-works staff for storm response and removal of fallen trees.
