Top Stories of 2017: Endicott council votes in chickens

At its June 13 meeting, Endicott town council voted unanimously to allow chickens to be raised within the town limits. Known as the “chicken ordinance,” the measure went into effect June 27, five days after the official publication date.

“Everybody’s worked pretty hard on it,” said Mayor Dave Bilow. “Hopefully everybody just does what they’re supposed to.”

After the council passed the ordinance Bilow vetoed it. It went back to the council and they voted unanimously to override the veto.

Bilow said his reasons for the veto were concern from citizens about enforcement, the overabundance of skunks and raccoons in town and fear of drawing more.

The ordinance allows for a maximum of 10 chickens kept in an enclosure that is predator-proof with four sides and a top kept at set distances from dwellings and property lines. Letting chickens roam at large is prohibited.

Anyone wanting to keep chickens will be required to pay an annual coop fee of $15.