The Cazenovia village board meeting on Monday Jan. 3 began with a public hearing about keeping chickens within village limits.
Board members examined and rejected a proposed law to allow fowl as pets.
The proposed law, titled “A local law to amend the Code of the Village of Cazenovia regarding the keeping of domestic animals,” aimed to designate chickens as domestic animals, allowing citizens to keep them as personal pets. Under the provisions of Chapter 50 and Section 180-7 of the village code, non-domestic animals are not to be kept on property inside the village.
This issue was first brought forth in June of 2010. Village resident William Wester asked the board to reconsider the keeping of chickens, suggesting a number of advantages. Some board members raised negative aspects of raising fowl, noise and odor among them. Wester defended his proposal, explaining that a maximum of six chickens would keep odor and noise to a minimum, and no roosters would be allowed.
The board rejected the proposed amendment, meaning the personal possession of fowl will remain illegal within village limits. Cazenovia code currently allows the keeping of domestic animals such as “dogs, cats, fish, turtles, gerbils, guinea pigs, and other household pets customarily kept in glass enclosures.”
The code indicates that animals classified as non-domestic such as fowl, waterfowl, swine, cattle, sheep, goats, horses and other wild animals are not allowed in the village.
Although many village residents attended the public hearing, no comments came from the general public. The village board passed the negative declaration quickly, approving the code as previously written.
In other board news
The Snowflake Children’s Run was set to take place during Winterfest on Feb. 12. The half-mile run/walk will be located at the village green and is offered to all children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
The annual Chilly Chili 5k has officially been moved to Jan. 23.
Timothy A. Moore will successfully receive funding for office supplies from the New York State Office of Court Administration though the 2011 Justice Court Assistance Program.
Village board meetings take place the first Monday of each month at the municipal building.
