The debate of backyard hens in Smiths Falls will continue after a divided council narrowly pushed through a request to have staff develop a draft pilot program that will be presented for further discussion and approval.
A public survey of 851 respondents showed a 70%-30% split in support of backyard chickens, with a 54%-45% division on if they’d have them in their own yards. One percent were undecided.
Councilor Jay Brennan was blunt with his thoughts.
The idea was brought forth to council again in April after a presentation from a resident reignited the debate that was last mentioned in 2018.
Town staff recommended not moving ahead with backyard hens citing concerns around the Avian Flu making its way through the United States, and the ability to enforce the bylaw as major reasons why.
Mayor Shawn Pankow weighed in.
A recorded vote was requested by Brennan on the motion to have staff draft a pilot program and it went as follows:
J Brennan – Nay
D Quinn – Nay
J Miller – Yay
P McKenna – Yay
C McGuire – Yay
S Pankow – Yay
S Robinson – Absent (vocally opposed during Committee of the Whole discussion earlier in the evening)
Story by Grant Deme