A proposal to formally prohibit the use of aerial fireworks in Pennsburg is moving forward. On Tuesday night, borough council approved a measure to advertise an ordinance during a public meeting. Police Chief Joe Adam expressed his support for the measure prior to the vote.

            Last month, Adam asked the members to make fireworks illegal in the municipality. The members agreed, unanimously directing Solicitor Daniel Sager to craft an ordinance to ban them.

            House Bill 542, signed into law in 2017 by Gov. Tom Wolf, allows consumers to purchase "consumer-grade" fireworks that include firecrackers, Roman Candles, bottle rockets, and similar fireworks that contain a maximum of 50 milligrams of explosive material, according to information posted on the Pennsylvania State Police website.

            The law, which repeals the Fireworks Act of 1939, states that fireworks cannot be discharged within 150 feet of an occupied structure, that they cannot be discharged from or within a motor vehicle or a building or toward a motor vehicle or a building.

            Adam argued during the March 10 meeting that since no one in the borough can comply with that space requirement, those fireworks should not be permitted. After the meeting, the chief said he preferred having the prohibition in black and white.

            "That way everyone will know they are illegal," said Adam, who claimed that the aerial fireworks were presumed to have caused at least two fires in the borough. "No one will have any excuses."

            Adam said he did not want to create an ordinance that would prevent children from safely playing with sparklers, snaps and similar devices.

            During the meeting hosted by Zoom, council's first in more than a month, the members discussed a multitude of issues.

            Council has already received two cost estimates from architects to convert the borough's former recycling center, behind the borough building on West Side Alley, into a new public works garage. The members are looking for a third, according to F. Robert Seville.

            Jason Kulp, the borough's Roads and Maintenance Supervisor, declined to disclose the prices they received to renovate and expand the facility. He said he didn't want to give a third architect the opportunity to undercut the two previous proposals.

            The members approved a disaster resolution for the borough. They also voted to extend the discount property tax period for borough property owners to May 31. According to council President Diane Stevens, the municipality is already $51,000 ahead of where they were last year in terms of tax revenue.

            "We're in pretty good shape," she said, explaining that most of the funds are deposited by escrow companies.

            Council also approved a measure granting an extension for the land development proposal for the McDonald's in the borough. The developer has until Nov. 6 to comply with the borough's conditions. At issue is pedestrian access between the restaurant and the other stores at the Pennsburg Square Shopping Center, located at 436 Pottstown Ave.

            Stevens announced that council would hold its next public gathering on May 12.