The Windham Town Council will consider restricting the days fireworks can be set off in town after hearing from residents who said they were fed up with the disruption they cause.

Julie Moore, a resident of Pope Road, said at a council meeting Tuesday that she was presenting the council with a letter signed by more than 100 residents, “residents who, like me, are disgusted, furious and warn out from being subjected to fireworks nearly three times per week since Memorial Day.”

Moore said the noise from fireworks is “very distressing,” and bothers residents, particularly babies, pets and livestock.

“I’m not talking about a minor nuisance here, but a major problem in many areas of the town,” she said.

Moore said she hoped the council could “finally bring forth a sensible ordinance, banning or severely limiting” the use of consumer fireworks.

The comments at Tuesday’s meeting mirrored many of the complaints the council received at public meetings during the summer of 2012 – the first summer consumer fireworks were legally allowed in the state. During several meetings, then, according to town documents, residents said the noisy displays were keeping their kids awake late into the night and disturbing their pets. The council drafted an ordinance in the fall of 2012 that would have banned the use of fireworks in the town entirely. The ordinance was never enacted.

At the meeting this week, the council took a more middle-of-the-road approach. Councilors discussed limiting the use of fireworks to certain holidays, such as July 4 and New Year’s Eve, and requiring users to obtain a permit before setting off fireworks.

A second discussion on the issue has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4. A public hearing and vote on a new ordinance limiting the use of fireworks was also tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 25.

A four-year-old state law allows consumer fireworks to be shot off by anyone 21 and older on private property any day of the year from 9 a.m.-10 p.m., except on July 4 and Dec. 31, when use is permitted until 12:30 the following morning. The law does not allow the use of “missile” products, such as bottle rockets, skyrockets and aerial spinners.

Some towns, such as Cumberland, Gorham and Standish, have enacted ordinances to restrict the use of fireworks to certain days, such as holidays. Other towns have chosen to ban fireworks altogether. Gray and Raymond have not enacted any ordinances to restrict or ban the use of fireworks.

Janice Beatting, a resident of Nash Road and pastor of Windham Friends Church, told the council Tuesday that “to everything there is a time and purpose. I don’t think fireworks should be every time we turn around every night. We should have concern for our neighbors.”

Beatting also said the loud noise from the fireworks disrupted her sleep and made her concerned for fire safety. She said she would like to see the town restrict the use of fireworks to certain days, and require a permit for lighting fireworks, similar to a burn permit.

Stephen and Susan Earls, residents of Little Sebago Lake, raised additional environmental and property damage concerns. They said they have found burn marks on their boat cover and float, and debris from fireworks floating in the lake.

“We’re worried if something falls on the roof while we’re asleep, what’s going to happen,” said Susan Earls.

No residents spoke in defense of fireworks.

Fire Chief Brent Libby said at the meeting that he would recommend a minimum restriction of requiring permits for shooting off fireworks, similar to obtaining a burn permit. This way, the use of fireworks would be tied to weather conditions, and would not be allowed if fire danger is too high.

Westbrook and Gorham use a similar permitting process.

Police Chief Kevin Schofield also addressed the council and circulated a memo regarding the volume of fireworks-related complaints. He said the department has responded to 21 calls for service pertaining to the use of consumer fireworks since May 28, six of which broke the state law by falling outside the hours when fireworks are permissible.

When calls c0mplaining about fireweorks come in within the permissible hours, Schofield said, it is “frustrating for (the police) because we can’t do anything to solve this quality-of-life issue.”

Residents have also taken to the town’s social media channels and have contacted town staff directly to express their discontent. Town Manager Tony Plante said in an interview that most people have not called for an outright fireworks ban, but instead they’ve requested restrictions on what dates and times they can be used.

The police department posted on its Facebook page July 4 about the state laws regulating use of fireworks. The post received more than a dozen comments and double that number in shares, with residents saying that fireworks late in the evening were disturbing their sleep and normal routines.

One resident said the fireworks are “awful for pets and children who are trying to sleep. (I) wish we wouldn’t allow it any time but holidays and then only between 9 and 10.”

Two combat veterans commented that they also were disturbed by the noise.

One resident defended the summer celebration, saying he thought the fireworks were “festive.”