The road is clear for a 20-minute fireworks show in the town on Saturday night, Sept. 18 …. as long as public health concerns don’t intervene.
And that means not only the Covid-19 coronavirus but also diseases carried by mosquitoes.
The event will be subject to state Covid regulations, Stanton said. She also reminded the board that for the past two years, late-summer evening events were canceled after confirmation of mosquitoes carrying eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus in nearby towns.
The Select Board Monday approved the Bedford Day fireworks—a rescheduling of the event originally planned for July 4, 2020. The display will be based at the John Glenn Middle School fields complex. There will not be a rain date.
Town Manager Sarah Stanton said she is negotiating with the vendor on issues like start time.
In answer to a question from Select Board member William Moonan, Stanton said the $12,000 cost of the fireworks will be covered by an appropriation carried over from fiscal year 2021, as well as from corporate donors and the recreation revolving fund.
Board Chair Margot Fleischman asked about financial implications if the event has to be canceled. The town manager said that although the town could lose its deposit of $500 to $1,000, “I think the company knows that everything is a bit tenuous. They have been pretty easy to work with.”
Stanton noted that scheduling fireworks for September is easier than competing with other towns for July 4. “We might want to think about a change for the future,” replied board member William Moonan.
Moonan expressed concern about “our ability to go ahead with Bedford Day.” Stanton said state mandates could impact the event, “but we hope to have some joy in being able to have Bedford Day.”
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
Loading ...
