A ban on fireworks will remain in place in the Seabrook Beach Village District after voters rejected a petition warrant article to allow such displays on weekends and holidays, including July 3.
Tom O’Hara’s citizen petition article — which was opposed by the commissioners of the Seabrook Beach Village District— failed by a vote of 615-666 at Tuesday’s election. It was attempting to overturn a rule put in place by the town’s selectmen in 2011
This was O’Hara’s third attempt to lift the ban of the pyrotechnics in the beach district.
Last year, the beach resident put forth an article that would allow displays before 10:30 p.m. with permission of the property owner but it failed by a mere three votes.
His first attempt in 2012 to reverse the ban was foiled when voters at deliberative session changed the wording of his article, essentially nullifying its intent.
The issue regarding fireworks at Seabrook Beach first flared up in 2011, when beach residents successfully persuaded selectmen to rule that fireworks, while permissible on private property throughout Seabrook, should not allowed at the beach district.
At the time, beach residents cited safety issues as the major concern as homes are built in close proximity to each other, while issues of noise disturbance were also raised.
Richard P. Maguire, chairman of the Seabrook Beach Village District commission, was one of the more vocal opponents of the article to lift the ban.
“The issue then and now is a quite simple one to grasp and understand,” said Maguire. “Homes within the Seabrook Beach Village District are most often within the 16 feet of one another in both the side and rear setbacks.”
The obvious safety concerns with homes in such close proximity, he said, led to the ban being put into effect.
“The problem exists seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. Fridays, Saturdays, holidays, and July 3 are no different,” Maguire said.
Maguire said he’s not opposed to fireworks.
He urged those who want to see fireworks at Seabrook Beach to encourage all parties — selectmen, beach commissioners, civic association leaders, fire and police officials — to work together to find ways for such displays in a responsible manner within the beach district.
All other petition warrant articles on the ballot were approved Tuesday including one that requests the town to reserve at least 10 parking spaces for town residents in the Seabrook Harbor parking lot
According to petitioner Joyce Addison, residents used to be able to park at that location. “We pay our taxes, we should be able to park there for free like we used to,” she said.
Voters also approved a petition article to replace the dugouts at Ralph Marshall Field at Gov. Weare Park, as well an an article by Philip S. Lycett III to raise the elderly property tax exemption for Seabrook residents.