East Greenville Council voted Monday to approve a new fireworks ordinance. It significantly increases the fine schedule and expands who can be cited.

            According to Solicitor Mark Eastburn, violators will pay between $100 and $1,500. He also said the new ordinance allows the municipality to penalize residents and property owners from where the fireworks originate.

            In August, Manager Jim Fry proposed allowing the borough's police department and its code enforcement office to enforce the ordinance and implement fines. He also suggested including language that would allow professional displays with a permit.

            State law forbidding the utilization of commercial fireworks within 150 feet of an occupied structure covers the entire municipality, according to the solicitor. Fry told the members two months ago that the borough's annual Fourth of July show is shot off from Upper Hanover.

            Multiple residents expressed concerns about potential air pollution created by a particle processing company in the borough. The discovery of a ProPublica article from four years ago – an analysis of communities that have a high level of industrial air pollution, including the municipality – appeared to spark the discussion.

            A member of a community Facebook page posted the 2021 article on Sept. 20. The post has attracted at least 56 comments. The initial speaker – Melissa Yocum, a Cherry Street resident – directed the members to the article, originally published Nov. 2, 2021, and updated two years later.

            The East Greenville map – posted on ProPublica's website – identifies Custom Processing Services LLC, located at 461 State St., on a 5.93-acre property between Fourth Street and South Sixth Street, as a hot spot. It states that emissions from a nearby facility add an estimated 1 in 2,100 excess lifetime cancer risk, 4.8 times the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's acceptable risk, based on an analysis of the agency's modeling from 2014 to 2018.

            "I'm really ticked," Yocum said. "What is the borough going to do to protect this community? It's unacceptable to live with this."

            Megan Jewett, a 6th Street resident, told council her child has an advanced form of cancer. She asked the members to hold someone accountable.

            "There's something going on," Jewett said.

            Three members said they were unfamiliar with these issues.

            President Douglas Criddle thanked the residents for bringing it to their attention. "This is the first I've heard of this," he said.

            Joe Rock, a State Street resident, said he knew nothing about this issue.

            Vice President John Dingler told a speaker that the borough would do what it could. Dingler directed residents to send any information to him.

            "I'll take responsibility," he said.

            The members honored Joel Pilgert for 10 years of service. Pilgert has worked as the borough's water plant supervisor since Oct. 1, 2015.

            Council met in executive session for 23 minutes prior to the public gathering to consider a matter of pending litigation, according to Criddle. He announced that the next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 20.

            In October, the Borough of East Greenville Police Department responded to 148 total incidents. That includes 43 for traffic, 15 public services, eight assists and four parking matters.

            The officers also dealt with two animal incidents, one fraud and one fire. The information, posted on the bulletin board outside the borough's meeting room, identifies 74 incidents as "other". The totals do not include ongoing investigations, according to a note at the bottom of the page.