BOSTON -- Residents of a small New England fishing town north of Boston are not taking kindly to seeing popular wintertime character Frosty the Snowman get torched every year during a Fourth of July celebration.

A decision to place Frosty the Snowman on top of the annual Fourth of July bonfire in Rockport, Mass., may have cost two volunteers some creative freedom.

Tim Giarrosso and Rickard York have designed the annual bonfire for years, according to the Gloucester Times. The Firemen's Association, however, decided to take back control after the pair put a snowman constructed out of plywood on top of the bonfire structure again last year.

Four years ago, Giarrosso and York were told not to use any snowmen in the fire after residents became upset when a 12-foot inflatable snowman went up in flames in the city's 2004 holiday bonfire.

For decades, members of the Firemen's Association have constructed a wooden-pallet tower for the annual bonfire. The topper, which has always been kept secret until the structure is complete, has been designed by Giarrosso and York for the past eight years, the newspaper reported.

Giarrosso's daughter, Magee Giarrosso, said that she was upset with the decision to remove her father from the tradition and hopes residents rally on the pair's behalf.