On the night the by-law was supposed to be on the table and a decision expected on the proposed backyard hen pilot project, one that’s been long debated during this council’s tenure and ones previous, council ultimately decided to remove it from the agenda and wait at least one more week.
Heading into the night, the by-law appeared set for an approval through a 4-3 vote with Councillors Peter McKenna, Chris McGuire, Jennifer Miller and Mayor Shawn Pankow expected to green light the one-year pilot project.
But a last minute plea from a local chicken sanctuary was enough for council to go with a different route.
Earlier Tuesday, Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary and its co-owner Liz Wheeler called on council to kill the project, citing gaps in the presented by-law around the health and welfare of both hens and humans.
They said their request for a delegation at the meeting was declined from town staff, who told them the agenda was full. The sanctuary did not provide information on what date they made the request.
Generally, council agendas are set three or four days before a meeting and delegation requests .
According to the delegation request form, they must be filled out and submitted by 4 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding the regular council meeting.
The Easter long weekend may have also altered the timeline as to when the agenda for this meeting was confirmed.
McGuire felt an extra delegation would provide no information council and staff have not already explored .
“I’ve reviewed the letter, I’m not seeing any new information coming forward,” he said, adding he was comfortable approving the by-law as is.
Miller said she echoed McGuire’s comments.
Pankow acknowledged the concerns Wheeler and the sanctuary share, but agreed with McGuire.
“I respect Ms. Wheeler and her intention and her passion… I know that her motivation comes from a very important place within her,” Pankow said.
“I think the approach we are taking is fair. I think we recognize we are putting the onus of responsibility on anyone who takes advantage of this opportunity to have backyard chickens, and we have to, I guess, have the belief that they will properly care for them.”
McKenna was ultimately the swung vote. “I don’t mind delaying (the by-law vote) if it’s just a week to hear from the person,” he told the horseshoe.
The sanctuary will get their chance to chat at next week’s Committee of the Whole meeting, as Councillors Jay Brennan, Stephen Robinson and Dawn Quinn agreed with McKenna and would like to hear what the sanctuary representatives have to say.
Story by Grant Deme