CASCO — For Town Manager Dave Morton, the barrage of fireworks around the Fourth of July is “always a nightmare” that leads to trash and unhappy residents.

“We get a whole lot of complaints this time of year,” said Morton, who has been manager in Casco for four decades.

Morton said the state law passed in 2011 legalizing consumer fireworks in Maine presents somewhat of a dilemma for small towns like Casco without its own police department.

While municipalities can restrict or ban the use of fireworks as part of that 2011 law, Morton said the challenges of enforcing such a local ordinance without town law enforcement make such restrictions impractical in Casco.

“It comes down to the enforcement issue,” Morton said.

In the absence of local regulations, consumer fireworks are legal throughout the year with some restrictions on times.

Despite lingering questions about enforcement, Gray pressed ahead this year with a fireworks ordinance that took effect June 14, limiting their use by individuals to only a few holidays and weekends during the year.

The ordinance also requires permits from the Gray Public Safety Department for any professional firework displays in town.

Gray Town Manager Deb Cabana said Monday she is aware of one fireworks complaint since the ordinance was passed. The town’s contracted deputy with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded, but authorities haven’t been able to identify the person who set off the fireworks, she said.

Windham, which does have a police department, has an ordinance that limits fireworks to certain days of the year and also requires consumer fireworks users to obtain a permit through the town’s Fire and Rescue Department.

Town Manager Tony Plante told the Town Council on July 10 that there were “roughly a dozen” complaints around the Fourth of July holiday, and that 73 permits were issued ahead of time.

“So people seem to be getting the message. Seventy-three is not a big number in a community of 19,000 – but not everybody shoots off fireworks,” Plante said. “We did have some complaints, we do still have some work to do, but I think the good news is the permit system is working.”

Standish Town Manager Kris Tucker said while his town does not have its own police force, the town’s six rotating deputies contracted from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office “absolutely do” have the authority to enforce Standish’s fireworks ordinance.

Scott Stewart, a captain in the Sheriff’s Office, said they can only enforce local ordinances in county towns like Gray and Standish where they have contracted officers. Casco does not have a contract with the Sherriff’s Office, he said.

Tucker also noted two recent fireworks incidents he has encountered – one as a manager and one as a private citizen.

The town received a complaint from a Standish citizen upset about a neighbor’s recent fireworks display, which she said rained debris on her property and car. Despite those concerns, Tucker said that particular fireworks display was “completely, as far as I could tell, within our ordinance.”

Over the Fourth of July holiday, Tucker visited his mother in Maine’s midcoast region, where he said two different neighbors set off fireworks displays that left debris on the beach. He said he picked up over a pound of debris the next day.

“Perhaps it’s time for the state to review what it allows,” Tucker said, adding that he “is not trying to be a killjoy.”  

For now, the town of Gray is focusing on raising awareness about the new ordinance through two electric road signs, and it may also include a notification about fireworks in tax bills. Cabana speculated that out-of-state property owners and renters may not know about the recent fireworks change.

She believes “most people are law abiding” and will follow an ordinance if they know about it.

“At least that’s what we’re hoping,” she said.

“It seems that the places where they are most prevalent are around the lakes,” Cabana said.

Little Sebago Lake Association President Pam Wilkinson said that while she’s observed less of an issue with fireworks in the lake’s upper basin, she thinks it is “a little bit too soon to tell” if the Gray ordinance is effectively striking a balance between fireworks enthusiasts and those looking to enjoy the calmness of the lake.

“Sometimes quiet is an unusual thing, and we should try to enjoy that as well,” Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson noted that the association’s milfoil monitoring team recently located a “substantial amount of debris on the bottom” of the lake following fireworks around the Fourth of July.

The association is encouraging people to pick up after fireworks displays.

“Education is the key,” Wilkinson said.

Gray Town Councilor Jason Wilson, who voted against the town’s fireworks ordinance, said he hasn’t seen much of a change since the ordinance was passed and continues to have questions about its enforceability.

“Most people think it’s not enforceable,” Wilson said.

Sharon Young, a recently-elected Gray Town Councilor who pushed for the town ordinance before joining the council, said that response to it has been “absolutely wonderful” and that there’s been “no issue that I’ve seen” related to fireworks on Little Sebago, where she lives.

“I kind of knew in my heart that most folks are respectful of the law,” she said.

During the Gray council debate on the fireworks ordinance, Wilkinson had suggested adding an additional Saturday when fireworks are allowed during the week of the Fourth of July so that people celebrating the holiday would be in compliance with the town’s ordinance.

“You also have to be realistic about life on the lake,” Wilkinson added about fireworks. “It is an enjoyment that everybody likes – whether you admit it or not.”

Matt Junker can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 123 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @MattJunker.

A homemade sign on Cambell Shore Road in Gray, near Little Sebago Lake, noting that the town has a new ordinance limiting the use of fireworks.