By Mike Joseph
mjoseph@centredaily.com
COLLEGE TOWNSHIP -- After negotiations with representatives of the State College Spikes baseball team, the township acted Thursday to prohibit the use of fireworks after 11 p.m. The previous cutoff time was midnight.
The 3-1 vote to amend the township's fireworks ordinance comes after residents who live near the baseball stadium complained to the township about explosive late-night fireworks last year, the Spikes' first season.
Councilmen David Wasson, Daniel Klees and Forrest Remick voted for the change. Councilman David Koll opposed it because he did not think it was restrictive enough. Councilman David Fryer did not attend Thursday's meeting.
Koll said Friday that he did not want to restrict the visual effects of fireworks but wanted the Spikes to eliminate "salute" shells, the big-band shells incorporated in fireworks displays for noise.
He said he would like to see the Spikes attract fans more with their play during the game and less with fireworks noise afterward.
It was a 14-inning game that was delayed by rain and lasted almost four-and-a-half hours last July that triggered the most complaints because the Spikes went ahead with post-game fireworks as scheduled even though it was well after 11 p.m. when the fireworks began.
The proposed ordinance amendment going into Thursday's council meeting would have made 11 p.m. the last time for fireworks to start, which was what the Spikes proposed in negotiations. The amendment as adopted makes 11 p.m. the last moment for fireworks to end. The fireworks usually last seven to 10 minutes.
"That's basically a minor compromise," Klees said Friday.
The amendment does not restrict the number of times during the year that fireworks may be used, nor does it call for less noisy salute shells.
Rick Janac, Spikes general manager, said Friday he was pleased with the outcome.
"We were appreciative of council and staff allowing us to get together to work out a satisfactory proposal for a fireworks ordinance," he said. "What was drafted last night was pretty close to what we had proposed. So we felt good about it."
The Spikes plan fireworks after 12 games this season, the same number as last season.
The first is scheduled after the home opener Wednesday, June 20. That game starts at 7:05 p.m. The second one is scheduled for Sunday, June 24, a game that starts at 6:05 p.m.
"We're sort of giving the Spikes the opportunity to know what being a good neighbor means," Klees said. "If we get comments from the public again, we'll take it up again next year."
mjoseph@centredaily.com
COLLEGE TOWNSHIP -- After negotiations with representatives of the State College Spikes baseball team, the township acted Thursday to prohibit the use of fireworks after 11 p.m. The previous cutoff time was midnight.
The 3-1 vote to amend the township's fireworks ordinance comes after residents who live near the baseball stadium complained to the township about explosive late-night fireworks last year, the Spikes' first season.
Councilmen David Wasson, Daniel Klees and Forrest Remick voted for the change. Councilman David Koll opposed it because he did not think it was restrictive enough. Councilman David Fryer did not attend Thursday's meeting.
Koll said Friday that he did not want to restrict the visual effects of fireworks but wanted the Spikes to eliminate "salute" shells, the big-band shells incorporated in fireworks displays for noise.
He said he would like to see the Spikes attract fans more with their play during the game and less with fireworks noise afterward.
It was a 14-inning game that was delayed by rain and lasted almost four-and-a-half hours last July that triggered the most complaints because the Spikes went ahead with post-game fireworks as scheduled even though it was well after 11 p.m. when the fireworks began.
The proposed ordinance amendment going into Thursday's council meeting would have made 11 p.m. the last time for fireworks to start, which was what the Spikes proposed in negotiations. The amendment as adopted makes 11 p.m. the last moment for fireworks to end. The fireworks usually last seven to 10 minutes.
"That's basically a minor compromise," Klees said Friday.
The amendment does not restrict the number of times during the year that fireworks may be used, nor does it call for less noisy salute shells.
Rick Janac, Spikes general manager, said Friday he was pleased with the outcome.
"We were appreciative of council and staff allowing us to get together to work out a satisfactory proposal for a fireworks ordinance," he said. "What was drafted last night was pretty close to what we had proposed. So we felt good about it."
The Spikes plan fireworks after 12 games this season, the same number as last season.
The first is scheduled after the home opener Wednesday, June 20. That game starts at 7:05 p.m. The second one is scheduled for Sunday, June 24, a game that starts at 6:05 p.m.
"We're sort of giving the Spikes the opportunity to know what being a good neighbor means," Klees said. "If we get comments from the public again, we'll take it up again next year."