Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> • ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,September 24,2012 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (4. ROOSTERS-POTENTIAL ANIMAL ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, Continued) <br /> sounds that become big nuisances. Roosters can register up to 90 decibels and can be heard over half a <br /> mile away. They also will crow throughout the day. They are not easily managed like a dog can be. <br /> Shatzer stated after being lied to and mislead numerous times,they felt they had run out of options and <br /> decided to ask the City for help. It was difficult to take this step but they felt they had no choice. The <br /> loud crowing would go on all day, often every 20 seconds,and could be heard inside their home with the <br /> windows closed. The crowing happened every day. Shatzer indicated they were also very concerned that <br /> the continuous crowing would lower their property values should they ever have to sell. <br /> After the letter was sent to Mr. Gaffron on June 1 lth,which the City Council should have received copies <br /> of,they contacted O�cer Barnes of the Orono Police Department for help. Another neighbor also <br /> contacted Officer Barnes. The citations the officer wrote and delivered to the rooster owner had no affect <br /> on stopping the rooster noise. The five to ten roosters continued their daily crowing competitions. <br /> Because the neighbor had hens and roosters,more roosters were maturing as the summer went on even <br /> though some were gotten rid of along the way. <br /> Shatzer stated they hope that an amendment made to the Animal Ordinance prohibiting roosters will <br /> provide the City with the ability to stop a situation like this from continuing and snowballing into a costly <br /> and timely legal situation such as this one. Shatzer reiterated that a number of cities and towns have had <br /> to address the noise issue caused by roosters, and many have made the decision to prohibit them. Even <br /> with the rural residential neighborhood they live in consisting of five acre lots,the homes are close <br /> together. Shatzer stated you must consider your neighbors in the choices that you make. Shatzer noted <br /> they live on ten acres and,under the City's current rules,they would be allowed 450 chickens, all of <br /> which could be roosters. <br /> Shatzer thanked the City Council for listening. <br /> Wade Shatzer,3685 Watertown Road, stated they appreciate the efforts of Staff and the Planning <br /> Commission in making an attempt to find a reasonable solution. Shatzer stated their solution to make an <br /> amendment to the Animal Code will give the City more enforcement powers in dealing with a situation of <br /> this type. <br /> Mayor McMillan closed the public comment portion of the meeting. <br /> Mayor McMillan commented that unfortunately scientists have not been successful at creating a rooster <br /> that does not crow and noted that dogs have bark collars and can be placed indoors if they become noisy. <br /> Printup stated he does not want to see any action taken on this amendment because it should be treated as <br /> a noise violation. Printup stated the City should not change its law based on one unfortunate <br /> circumstance. Printup commented there is a move towards more organics and healthy living and that if <br /> the City prohibits roosters, it could very well lead to other restrictions. <br /> Franchot stated he understands how frustrating this situation is and that if Staff feels it is better to let the <br /> current litigation follow its course before taking action on this item,he would go along with that but <br /> would not be opposed to banning roosters if the rest of the City Council determined that was appropriate. <br /> Page 7 of 12 <br />