Is Town Meeting For the Birds?

Our Spring Annual Town Meeting is less than one month away. Towns all over the Commonwealth will be dealing with interesting issues, including the town of Amherst.

Amherst Town Meeting members invited to visit backyard chicken coop
Published: Thursday, April 07, 2011, 7:00 AM By Diane Lederman, The Republican

AMHERST - With Town Meeting slated to consider amending the backyard chicken bylaw next month, members have the chance to visit a coop as part of a regional chicken coop tour this weekend.

The Planning Board last week voted to support the petition that is being brought to Town Meeting by University of Massachusetts professor John Gerber. The board will offer some modifications on Town Meeting floor.

The petition, which has to receive a two-third’s vote to pass at Town Meeting, would allow up to 12 animals – hens or rabbits – throughout town. The proposal also eliminates the need for a special permit, which is required in some town zones now. The idea is to make it easier and less costly for people to be able to have backyard hens. Gerber said it cost him $210 to go through the permitting process.

Under the proposal, those wanting hens or rabbits would have to register the coop or hutch with town Animal Welfare officer Carol A. Hepburn. Health Director Julie Federman has suggested a $10 fee. Hepburn would inspect the site when someone is registering the first time, Gerber said.

The Town Meeting Coordinating Committee, meanwhile, has notified members that if they have questions, they can visit Gerber’s chicken coop Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m. as part of the annual Pioneer Valley Coop Tour. That tour features open coops in Holyoke, Florence, Northampton, Haydenville and Pelham in addition to Gerber’s coop.

The Select Board is slated to consider whether to support the proposal at its meeting Monday night. Town meeting begins May 2, but the bylaw change likely won’t be presented until later in the meeting, with members to consider the budget first.

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But this article got me to thinking. Would Walpole's Town Meeting members want or benefit from a tour of the Walpole Woodworkers property? Town Meeting will be considering this issue under Article 17 on May 2 or May 4, whenever we get to it. I can't remember Town Meeting ever taking a view before, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.