Palmerton’s solution to a fireworks problem might take the form of a partial ban between the late evening and morning hours, per an ordinance first read at council’s meeting last Thursday.

According to the recently introduced legislation, people wouldn’t be allowed to discharge fireworks in the borough between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Councilwoman Holly Sell asked after the ordinance was introduced whether specific hours even needed to be set. Sell pointed out that there are few - if any - places in the borough where someone could light fireworks without defying the state’s necessary 150-foot distance from occupied structures.

Sell’s concern was that attaching an allotted time period to fireworks might lead some residents to consider the borough’s ordinance over already established state law.

“Doesn’t that send a message that if you’re doing it in the borough between these hours, the borough’s almost giving you the green light to do that?” Sell asked.

“The reason our residents are asking for this is because of dogs barking. That’s going to happen no matter what time of day it is,” Sell said.

“There are people who work different shifts, and just because 3 a.m. is disruptive to one person, doesn’t mean 3 p.m. in the afternoon is not disruptive to another person. The time restriction doesn’t get rid of the safety incidents. It doesn’t get rid of the pollution risks,” Sell added.

Regulating fireworks on the municipal level is difficult in Pennsylvania, where the state has already created legislation that allows them. The ordinance making its way through Palmerton council makes clear that fireworks could not be discharged on borough property, but prohibiting individuals’ use of fireworks is impossible.

That means municipalities like Palmerton can limit fireworks but they can’t ban them.

But a time restriction, council resolved, could help Palmerton police officers in their enforcement efforts. For that reason, it proposed the 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. block.

The ordinance’s next step would be adoption, which could happen at the meeting in August.

Fireworks have been a topic of debate on both the local and national level as of late.

In Carbon County, the widespread issue has moved some municipalities, such as Palmerton, to action.

Lehighton Borough is hoping to strengthen its fireworks ordinance. Even before this summer, Slatington had already established a partial ban of its own.

Kidder Township is looking to hire a code enforcement officer who would, as part of their position, help crack down on illegal uses of fireworks.

Authorities in the Schuylkill County borough of Coaldale promised to look into how it deals with nuisance fireworks early next year.

Also on Thursday:

Palmerton council held a public hearing concerning the fate of Alley J, a paper alley between Princeton and Columbia avenues that some residents want to make public.

The project, which has not yet been approved by council, would run a price tag of around $200,000.