Fireworks Causes Fireworks at County Council

There was a mini fireworks at Cumberland Council last night as councillors debated an earlier decision to stop funding fireworks.

Council passed a motion a few month’s ago that they would no longer give grants for community fireworks. Discussion on the county budget revealed that Springhill and Parrsboro have planned fireworks displays for Canada Day, and the events are paid by the county.

The pyrotechnic displays are annual events that date back to when those communities were self funded towns. When the county inherited the two towns, they inherited the Canada Day fireworks too.

When council decided they would not give grants for fireworks, they did not take into account that the displays in the two former towns were expenses, not grants.

A motion by Don Fletcher and Lynne Welton to delete the Canada displays from this year’s budget was defeated. Council was deadlocked at five votes for and against, when Warden Al Gillis voted no, leaving the Canada Day shows as planned.

When council first voted to eliminate county funding of fireworks, the Warden predicted the issue would come back. Given last night’s close vote, it will likely be raised again in the not too distant future.

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