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| Amy Zanelli |
Although part of Hanover Township was once known as Chickentown, animal husbandry has been banned in residential areas since the '60s. Northampton County Children and Youth caseworker Amy Zinelli would like that policy to change, and appealed to Supervisors at their August 25 meeting. Flashing her badge, she complained that Township Manager Jay Finnigan had engaged in fowl play when he told her that the Board is unlikely to change its mind. "I don't think it's fair that one Board member should speak for the rest," she argued. She asked Supervisors to allow her to make a presentation at their next meeting, and they agreed.
Finnigan, who is Manager and not a Board member, was relaying their policy as of
November 2011, which was the last time this issue was discussed. "We've been down that road before,and rather recently," observed Chairman John N. Diacogiannis. But he told Zinelli that she is welcome to make a presentation at a meeting in September.
Zinelli told Supervisors that she began circulating a petition that afternoon, and in two hours, had 50 signatures in support of backyard chickens. The only person who refused to sign was the neighbor who had complained. She has been ordered to shut down her operation, or face a fine of $500 a day. She explained that she has a tiny coup of four hens, with no rooster, and uses it to teach her own and other neighborhood children about the benefits of urban agriculture. "I am sure this was not the type of activity that the community was seeking to prevent when it enacted the ban," she remarked.
She made clear that she wants more than a special exception. She wants the animal husbandry ban changed.
The
increasing popularity of urban chickens has extended into some major metropolitan areas like New York City, Portland and Seattle. But to some,
backyard chickens are for the birds. Among the concerns raised are odors, unwanted predators, declining property values, noise and disease.
21 comments:
With the price of eggs being as they are, I wouldn't mind having a few hens myself.
Newsflash! This isn't Portland. You'll have even more suburbanites before the board if you allow chickens in denser residential zones. The noise, smell and stray chickens pecking neighbors lawns will create havoc for Township staff and police having to resond to complaints. Move to a more rural area and knock yourself out.
rather have a chicken in my back yard than a politician. Chickens smell less.
Enlightening to see the supervisors comments as to public presentations. We've been down that road before. Why don't voters tell these supervisors to go take a rest and vote in new folks that haven't been down the road, as yet anyway. Disgusting.
What does the fact that this women works for Northampton County have to do with chickens? Was she trying to use her county position to influence the Board? If she wants to raise chickens, buy a farm!
Where she works is irrelevant, except that she did flash her badge for some reason.
6:51, There is nothing ridiculous abut a ban on animal husbandry. There are numerous problems with animal husbandry in urban settings.
My husband is an animal and he doesn't smell.
The recent SCOTUS decision paves the way for marrying animals. There's nothing wrong with animal husbandry or wifery. To each his own. It's time for this board to evolve.
She was right when she assumed Finnegan was a supervisor. He was one but when he needed a job his supervisor buddies made him manager. The incestuous nature of local government.
Did she mention what part of the township (stafore, hanoverfarms, point north) she is from. I'm out of the township, but I still have a vested interest. I think allowing the chickens is a bad idea. People don't have time for their dogs. To expect people to keep chicken coops clean is wishful thinking.
Hank_Hill
She lives off of Stafore near the Prime.
If she is there she is close to the farm. Maybe she could make an agreement with them to have chickens there. No need to change township ordinances.
hank_hill
Her badge, now that is funny. She should stop taking herself so seriously, no one else is.
"She was right when she assumed Finnegan was a supervisor. He was one but when he needed a job his supervisor buddies made him manager. The incestuous nature of local government."
Really? As a resident of Allentown, I would love the type of local government citizens have in Hanover Township. The horrors! Modest taxes, competent staff, good delivery of basic services. You refer to incestuous local government? We have 3 City Council members who have children with good City jobs. "Supervisor buddies"? We have a chief executive with 6 "Council Buddies" and FBI raids in our municipal building.
I worked with Finnegan at his last job. He was gainfully employed and was not in need of a job. Get your facts correct.
Finnigan was more than gainfully employed. he is a whiz with numbers abd could probably be making double what he earns now. But he would not get to see me or Vince Milite.
Please, D&B was downsizing. People don't take a 50% pay cut because they are nice guys. You and your mancrushes escape logic.
Not so much a mancrush from me as hatred from you.
Is "Chicken Amy" the same person running for commissioner in district 3?
Yes
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