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Gardner approves higher permit fee and narrower sales window for fireworks to fund mitigation for sensitive residents and animals
Summary
The council adopted an ordinance increasing fireworks‑sales permit fees to $1,500 and aligning permitted sales hours with discharge hours (sales to align with 11 p.m. discharge end). The extra fees are intended to fund signage and mitigation for sound‑sensitive residents and animals.
The Gardner City Council adopted an ordinance raising the permit fee for fireworks sales to $1,500 (a $500 increase) and clarifying hours when fireworks sales are permitted to match allowed discharge times.
An ad hoc committee that reviewed the municipal fireworks rules recommended the changes, proposing that the additional fee revenue be used for signage and other mitigation tools to assist sound‑sensitive residents and animals. The committee report noted the city typically has eight to 12 stands and estimated the fee increase would raise an additional $4,000–$5,000 for mitigation efforts.
A council member asked how the new fee revenue would be tracked; staff replied it could be recorded as a project line in the city’s accounting system. After brief discussion about enforcement and public outreach, the council moved, seconded and adopted Ordinance No. 2839 amending the Gardner Municipal Code to raise the fireworks‑sales permit fee and establish permitted sale times.
Council members and staff suggested follow‑up outreach (newsletter and social media) and signage to notify residents about permit requirements and no‑soliciting rules.
