The fireworks display on July 9 celebrating the Town of Greenfield’s 225th anniversary is no longer a town sponsored event.
At a meeting of town selectmen on Tuesday, community members and public safety officers voiced their opinions and concerns about how the event should be promoted, given that it is an event on private property open to the public.
“We have no questions about the quality of the program,” Selectman Robert Marshall said during the meeting. “Our only concern is our legal exposure.”
According to Town Administrator Aaron Patt, the board has decided not to extend the official anniversary celebration through the fireworks.
Greenfield police and fire chiefs were present for the meeting. The fire department will likely respond to an incident as it normally would, but roughly three police officers were to be present to shorten response time and control traffic flow.
The fact that there will be no alcohol at the celebration goes a long way in making safety management simpler for Police Chief Brian Giammarino.
“That’s a very big help for us,” he said.
Kathleen Seigars is hosting the Temple Band concert and fireworks. She is confient in her property’s ability to house such an event because she had about 300 people for a party last summer.
The fireworks were originally promoted as a part of the town celebration and were to be held at the Seigar’s residence on Pine Hill Road, beginning around 9 p.m. Patt did not know whether that would change.
The actual date of the anniversary is June 15, when there will be an event at the Town Hall with music and cake.
The biggest day of the celebration is June 25, when there will be a parade and day-long celebration at Oak Park.
The Greenfield 225th Anniversary Subcommittee meets next on June 7.
(Brendon Latham can be reached at 924-7172, ext. 228 or at blatham@ledgertranscript.com.)