A few fireworks sounded off at Monday’s Lehighton Borough Council meeting, though hardly the explosive type that have been set off in the borough for over the past month.

Several residents from South Second Street and surrounding areas spoke about the fireworks issue several weeks after a petition with about 35 signatures was presented to the borough.

Before the residents had their say, Councilman Ryan Saunders told them that the borough’s police, fire and safety committee have met to discuss updating the borough’s fireworks ordinance.

“We have seen your petition,” Saunders said. “It’s our goal to make sure that our public is safe, and your voices have definitely been heard.”

Saunders, who said that an arrest has been made, urged residents to be proactive whenever they see someone setting off fireworks.

“We are asking for your help; we can’t do it alone,” he said. If police don’t see it, they can’t do anything.

“We need your help to do that.”

Borough Manager Nicole Beckett briefly discussed Senate Bill 932. Council had authorized her to contact local House and Senate members to demand local authority to prohibit consumer fireworks, and noted that residents are encouraged to do the same.

“We really appreciate the efforts,” resident Annette Tenisci said. “I’m pleading with everybody, you have to give up your neighbors.”

Resident Tim Snyder thanked council, as well as the police department, for responding to their calls.

“You can’t enjoy your yard, you can’t enjoy your pool,” Snyder said. “It has been greatly improved; I’ve seen a lot of police presence.”

Resident Nickolas Smith said his biggest concern is the youth.

“There’s too many kids setting off these fireworks, and that’s dangerous,” Smith said. “We don’t want any kids to get hurt.”

Smith said that youth have been pointing the fireworks toward structures, adding that they could easily hurt themselves and their friends.

Saunders again stressed the importance of reporting to police.

“If you see something, call us,” Saunders said. “It’s something we have to catch in the act.”

Saunders said that while he believes that would help to curb the issue, he cautioned residents not to take the matter into their own hands.

“Don’t put your Batman cape on,” he said. “Let them (police) handle it.”

Resident Jim Marcum, a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder, told council how hard the fireworks are to deal with.

“As a veteran, if you never were through it and lived it, you have no idea,” Marcum said. “It needs to stop, it really does.”

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky reminded residents that when they call to report the issue, they need to dial the Carbon County Communications Center’s nonemergency line at 570-325-9111.

Saunders said he believes it’s “high time” that the borough strengthen its ordinance. The police, fire and safety committee will work on suggestions for the ordinance, and additional members may join the meeting or provide suggestions.

“We need to be a lot more stern about it,” he said. “We have to make an ordinance that hits them where it hurts.”

Crime watch

Mayor Clark Ritter suggested that a Neighborhood Crime Watch be started. Residents would take down a description of the person and the vehicle.

“So, for fireworks, that would be really effective, I believe,” Ritter said.

Councilman Donnie Rehrig said he believes that’s a great idea to get the license plate numbers of the cars, and police could in turn run it and find out where it’s coming from.

Council decided that a new ordinance be put together and then reviewed by borough solicitor Jim Nanovic. Police, fire and safety will meet and provide suggestions for the fireworks ordinance, which will then be provided to Nanovic, and an updated ordinance will be drafted and presented to council for approval.

Last week, the borough posted on its website a reminder to residents of the fireworks law in Pennsylvania, and that it plans to enforce the state fireworks law to address the issue of fireworks being set off in the borough.