LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — After town meeting tabled a vote to implement new regulations on backyard fowl, the Board of Selectmen are asking the Board of Health to adopt such a measure.

 

The Selectmen approved on Monday sending two new regulations to the Board of Health, which will not need town meeting approval. The first would limit the number of animals on a property less than one acre and the other would call for owners of fowl to register with Town Hall.

 

"The main focus of it is, people who are on lots of less than one acre," Town Manager Paul Sieloff said. 

 

The Board of Health only needs a public hearing and a vote to approve the new policies. If that board adopts it in April, residents would have three months to comply. From then on, violations could result in a $100 fine.

 

"This is something which could be adopted in a few weeks," Sieloff said.

 

The limit on a number of animals on less than an acre of land would be 12 and no roosters would be allowed, Sieloff said. 

 

"If this regulation is passed, then we have in written form a rule that you have to follow. If you have less than an acre of land you can have up to 12 of these and that's it," Sieloff said.

 

Selectman Robert Ericson proposed, and was approved, in removing an exception for cats. Cats also will be limited to only a dozen on less than an acre of land. Ericson said there have been issues in the past with residents owning too many cats on small pieces of land but because of a lack of bylaws, the Board of Health was stymied in taking action. He said the number of dogs is already limited under kennel laws.

 

The second regulation would ask residents to register as owners of fowl every five years. At first that also called for a $25 fee but the Board of Selectmen pulled that.

 

"I think you'll get more cooperation from people if you have zero fee. If there is a fee, people won't do it," Selectman Henry "Hank" Sayers said.

 

Sieloff said the registration process will help town and state officials respond to such events as an outbreak of avian flu or the likes. If something breaks out, Sieloff said the town would know who it would have to contract.

 

"To me, it sounded like a good idea, if we are doing one regulation to do the other," Sieloff said.

 

The regulation would resolve an ongoing conflict on Narragansett Avenue. Resident Kara Zaks is raising around 80 ducks and chickens on about a half-acre of land. Her neighbor Clark Gable has hired an attorney and is pushing for a reduction in flock size. The two sides were negotiating to reduce the size of the flock but failed to reach a compromise. 

 

But Zaks isn't the only complaint the board has received regarding such practice. It has fielded a few complaints over the years for similar issues.

 

Last year, the board received a complaint about another resident who is reportedly raising rabbits for food but that hasn't grown into such the public issue as Zaks' case has. Sieloff said the new law would restrict the number of rabbits, too.

 

The board also considered a regulation on horses, which would require riders to be in single file on public roads. Those coupled with the Zaks' complaint triggered a proposed bylaw at town meeting that was ultimately tabled.

 

"We will work with as many parties involved to make this possible," Sieloff said of the new rules.