By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(Nov. 5, 2020) The Berlin Mayor and Council agreed last Tuesday to cancel the 2020 fireworks show proposed for New Year’s Eve and have 50 percent of the 2020 deposit applied to the fireworks show on at dusk on July 3, 2021.

Ivy Wells

Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director, presented three options regarding the annual fireworks show.

The first option was to pay the remaining $5,000 of the $10,000 contract for a 20-minute fireworks show at Worcester County Ball Fields on Route 113 on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. The decision had to be made by Dec. 1 for the first option.

“I have confirmed with the fire marshal that he will issue the permit for New Year’s Eve,” Wells said. “I’ve also contacted Tom Perlozzo with Worcester County Parks and Recreation, and he sees no problem with this day to use the fields for the fireworks shoot.”

In addition, Wells said the Worcester County Health Department requires a map of the layout and a plan to enforce social distancing among viewers to be submitted in advance.

Social distancing measures and the health department’s rules must be enforced during the event.

Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing reported that he spoke to county health officer Becky Jones, who said if

Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing

everything remains as it is today her advice to the mayor and council would be not to hold a fireworks show.

“The location itself changes everything and makes things a little bit more difficult for us because we have no traffic devices [and] no lights off of Germantown Road, and we have to go ahead and do all of that with personnel,” Downing said. “Fireworks itself without the pandemic is going to be difficult. With it is going to be very difficult.”

The second option applies a $2,500 credit from the 2020 canceled show to next year’s Independence Day show. The town also forfeited the remainder of the deposit.

The fireworks show on July 3, 2021 will now cost $7,500 instead of $10,000.

The third option would not cost the town any money.

“Moving forward the town would forfeit the $5,000 2020 deposit, and the town could choose to no longer be responsible for any fireworks event,” Wells said.

Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood suggested the mayor and council choose between the second and third options, saying it is unrealistic to enforce a social distancing plan during the event without knowing what size crowd to expect.

“If we’re the only show in town, then everybody’s going to come here,” Downing added.

Councilmember Troy Purnell moved to approve the second option,  and the mayor and council agreed.