At its Aug. 3 meeting, Bath Borough Council joined nine other Nazareth Area Council of Government communities in a letter supporting the repeal of the state’s fireworks law. Residents have expressed widespread disapproval of near-incessant fireworks in the borough, it was reported.

“I get them all the time,” said Bath Borough Mayor Fiorella Reginelli-Mirabito, regarding complaints.

Many municipalities have shared negative experiences since the fireworks law was adopted. Some complaints include fire department calls to extinguish aerial rockets that landed on garage and home roofs.

These negative experiences include a lack of real enforcement because of the manner the fireworks law was written. A police officer must catch the perpetrator of a pyrotechnic launch in the process of actually lighting the fireworks in order to cite the person.

There is a disregard by some fireworks users for the 150-foot minimum distance from structures rule in the law.

Additionally, the distress fireworks can cause people with post-traumatic stress disorder and some autism conditions, as well as severely frightening family pets, is a concern for many.

These are just a few of the reasons why Bath and NAZCOG supports repealing the fireworks law in Pennsylvania.

The letter writing and complaint actions face an uphill struggle because the sales tax on fireworks is much higher than the regular 6-percent sales tax for other goods and raises, by some estimates, $14 million in tax revenue for Pennsylvania.

In other business, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation noted it will be sending a vendor out in the area of the West Northampton Street bridge to begin core sampling between now and Labor Day weekend. Core sampling is the first step before reconstructing a new bridge.

Construction with the realignment project could begin by late 2021/early 2022. The project is estimated to take a year or two to finish.

PennDOT also met with the borough to discuss traffic light improvements, in accordance with the borough’s Master Long-Range Transportation Improvement Plan.

PennDOT has essentially taken phase one of the borough’s plan and added it to the state’s Transportation Improvement Plan.

The project will cover the updating of four traffic lights within the borough, adding turn lanes and providing Americans with Disabilities Act ramps with pedestrian signalization. The estimated costs, which PennDOT will cover, are between $750,000 and $1.5 million.

Plans to begin design work will take place after October. The project is expected to be placed out for public bid by April 2021 and completed by fall 2021, assuming no glitches, such as right-of-way issues, environmental issues, historic district issues, etc., occur.

This is a huge accomplishment for Bath and a great partnership with PennDOT that council is excited about.

“We are incredibly grateful for this transportation improvement,” borough Manager Bradley Flynn said.

Also at the meeting, there was a complaint of people riding all-terrain vehicles at Firefighters Field. The code enforcement office plans to address the issue.

A juvenile problem reported near the dog park was referred to Pennsylvania State Police, which provides police services in the borough.

It was reported the borough’s new parking meters went live July 1. There have been three parking tickets issued so far for motorists failing to put money in the meter, it was noted.

Borough capital improvements are reportedly on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In another matter, the escrow turn-back payment request to the Terrace Park Homeowners Association was not voted on. Solicitor Blake Marles advised council the money was authorized to be returned to the developer, not the homeowners association.

Also, the borough announced it has gone live with its quality of life ticketing program as of Aug. 1. For information on the program, contact the borough office at 610-837-6525.

The next Bath Borough Council meeting is 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7. There is a bimonthly council meeting 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9. Both meetings are held at Bath Borough Hall, 121 S. Walnut St.

The meetings are in person with limited seating and via Zoom in a virtual format. Contact the borough office for the Zoom meeting codes.