Chickens Don’t Fly
By LIBBY CUDMORE•HOMETOWN ONEONTA, THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL
(Edition of Friday, Oct. 10)
Oneonta residents will have to wait a little longer before they start their mornings with eggs fresh from their own chickens.
In the half hour of public comment at the Common Council’s meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7, Council members heard passionate arguments from both sides of the chicken debate.
“This is a particularly foul idea,” said Frank O’Mara, Ford Avenue. “It’s guaranteed to pit neighbor against neighbor. You approve chicken, what’s next? Can I have four pigs in my barn?”
“If we turn this down, we are making a statement that local food isn’t important to us,” said Tracy Allen, Church Street. “There are people who can’t afford to go to the store and buy organic eggs – so let them raise a few chickens.”
But Common Council decided to table passing or vetoing the ordinance in hopes of tightening the law’s language. “I have nothing against chickens and I would support this if there was a permitting system in place,” said Council member Maureen Hennessey.
Council member Bob Brzozowski agreed with the permitting process, and his colleague Dave Rissberger hoped to add a provision that would require chicken owners to get approval from all neighbors before purchasing hens.
This would also be a way to inform owners about proper handling to reduce the risk of salmonella. “I don’t think we’ve done our homework,” he said.
Council members Russ Southard and Madolyn Palmer heard overwhelmingly that their constituents did not want chickens. “I’ve had an outpouring of people against this,” said Southard.
“I’d add an amendment that says this won’t be permitted in the Fourth Ward,” added Council member Mike Lynch.
Council member Larry Malone found his ward divided on the issue. “It’s generational,” he said. “Those under 40 are in support of it, while those over 40 are against it.”
In his research, he found that Burlington, Vt., had a similar ordinance, but limited chickens per household to three.
“It sounds reasonable to go smaller,” Brzozowski agreed.
But for Chip Holmes, Eighth Ward, the issue was more than just squawking. “The problem is that we don’t trust our neighbors,” said Holmes. “I have no problem with what my neighbors do on their property, and I hope we take this as an opportunity to get to know our neighbors better.”