Pittsfield Panel Looks to Remove Chicken Permitting from ZBA

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — City councilors have spoken: chicken keeping needs to be simpler and more affordable.

On Monday, the Ordinances and Rules subcommittee supported removing chicken permitting from the Zoning Board of Appeals and requiring a license similar to that of a dog.

The 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. 

"I was looking at, similar to how we do dogs is there'll be a license, a very simple license fee that people would have to come in, fill out an application so we know where they are, who the people are, where the chickens are, etc.," Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren said.

"And then obviously if there are any complaints about any problems, we'd send out the relevant city officials. I think that's a nice, simple, sweet procedure. It avoids having to go through zoning requirements of the state and the cost that that entails."

He can't see how the city will find itself "unprotected from chickens."

For months, Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowsky and resident Melissa Corbett have been trying to move the permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals to the Health Department because of permitting costs. Keeping six chickens currently clocks in at more than $500 and the petitioners say it could be a $25 fee under the Health Department.

"This has been going on for over seven months now and it's like a push-and-pull game," Kalinowsky said. "I do realize that we could still move forward through the ordinances and rules and I say that that's what we do."

The councilor has previously reported that Police Chief Michael Wynn saw no problem with the animal control officer responding to chicken complaints and citing people. 

Under the current process, reports of unsanitary chicken conditions are referred to the building inspector.

Councilor at Large Peter White and Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey agreed with removing the process from the ZBA but want to make sure that an ordinance is in place before that is done.

"I think the process is harder to take the current system out of zoning than it will be for the system that we actually do to hopefully fix this problem," White commented.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.