Alna voters could decide next spring if they want local rules on fireworks.

At least two town officials do not, including the fire chief.

The issue could draw a crowd to town meeting, selectmen said. But they also said they won't take it to the meeting unless asked.

The request could come from former Alna selectman Paul Lazarus. He's considering it after finding little support September 5 when he asked selectmen to come up with an ordinance.

That would have put proposed rules on track for the March 2014 town meeting. But selectmen said they'd rather know first if voters even want the rules.

Lazarus said fireworks pose a fire hazard, particularly in a heavily wooded town like Alna.

He didn't call for a ban, but said local controls could reduce the fire risk.

Lazarus' concerns did not sway Alna Fire Chief Mike Trask or Second Selectman Jonathan Villeneuve. Both men said they enjoy fireworks and don't see a need to restrict their use further than the state does.

“I light them off. I do it responsibly,” Villeneuve said. “There's irresponsible people with regulated and unregulated substances that put my family in danger.”

Fireworks have not been causing fires around town, Trask said. The end of a state ban on sales has created jobs and generated sales tax money, he said.

Many other Maine towns have adopted fireworks ordinances, Lazarus said. “Wiscassset's got an ordinance ... It's not like this is unique. We're a town of 700 people who'd be doing the same thing.”

“We're also a town of 700 people who don't like ordinances,” Third Selectman David Reingardt said.

He and First Selectman David Abbott said if Lazarus wanted, they would offer March town meeting voters the chance to call for an ordinance.

“To me, if they decide they think we need an ordinance, I'm all for it,” Abbott said.

Villeneuve said he would oppose having that article on the warrant. An ordinance should either be proposed, or not, he said.

Selectmen told Lazarus he could draft an ordinance and get it on the warrant through a petition drive.

In a telephone interview September 6, Lazarus said he does not plan to start a petition. He may do more research and then ask the board for the town meeting question, on whether or not to create an ordinance, he said.

Once drafted, the ordinance would require another town vote to approve or reject it.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or susanjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com