I just sent the following e mail to the Mayor, Council members, and Administrator. Lets see what they have to say:

As you already know, I am trying to get the Board of Health to reverse it's decision not to change the ordinance prohibiting the keeping of chickens in the Borough. I last contacted the Board a month ago and have not yet received a response from them. I imagine they will not contact me until after their next meeting in June, which I plan on attending.

I believe this issue is a property rights issue. Citizens should be able to do whatever they want on their own property as long as it does not infringe upon the rights of others. Any health or nusiance related problems are already addressed in the Borough and Board of Health ordinances.

That being the case, the ordinance that prohibits the keeping of poultry in the Borough is unnecassary and should be repealed. Everyday communites across the country are changing laws to allow the keeping of backyard chickens so that residents can provide healthy food for their families. This is critically important during these tough economic times. For information about what other communities are doing, please visit my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/New.Milford.Sustainability where you will also find information about gardening, composting, recycling, etc.

I am asking you to please talk to the Health Department and Board of Health and tell them that raising no more than 6 chicken hens is good for the people of New Milford and the environment.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Jefffrey DelVecchio