 Electric Fencing Offers Protection Against Chicken PredationThe Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department urges poultry owners to use electric fencing and follow other precautions to protect their birds from predation.  Williamstown Board of Health Reduces Number of Tobacco LicensesIn a unanimous vote at the end of its monthly meeting, three members of the five-person board decided to trim the number of tobacco licenses from seven to six, reflecting the fact that only six of the available licenses currently are in use. Pittsfield Community Development Supports Chicken OrdinanceIt takes the process out of the Zoning Board of Appeals' purview, which cost more than $500, and requires a license similar to that of a dog.  Pittsfield Subcommittee OKs Draft Chicken OrdinanceOn Monday, the Ordinances and Rules subcommittee supported a drafted ordinance that brings the cost of keeping six chickens from over $500 to $25. Pittsfield Panel Looks to Remove Chicken Permitting from ZBAThe request was tabled and referred to City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta, who will draft an ordinance with guidelines and come back to the panel next month for a final vote.  Pittsfield Health Board Says 'No' to Chicken Permit ResponsibilitiesThe Board of Health does not agree with putting chicken permitting under its purview just to reduce the cost.  Pittsfield Board of Health Revisits Proposal to Make Chicken Keeping More AffordableBoard of Health members are hesitant to put chicken-keeping permits under the Health Department's purview but have agreed to gather more information about it. Pittsfield Subcommittee Considers Options for Affordable Chicken KeepingA popular suggestion was to make the process similar to $20 annual dog licensing, which City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta will look into along with a $200 site plan approval. Pittsfield Could Look at High Cost of Chicken PermitsChickens are permitted through zoning ordinance under a special permit at a cost of more than $500.  Pittsfield Eying Chicken Keeping OrdinanceResident Melissa Corbett contacted Kalinowsky and proposed a permitting process for the raising of six chickens that goes through the Board of Health instead of the Zoning Board of Appeals and has an initial fee of $25.  Residents Debate Chicken Coop Permit at Adams ZBANearly a dozen people attended Tuesday's Zoning Board of Appeals meeting to debate a special permit for a chicken coop, causing the board to table the issue until its next meeting. |
