Callery residents petition for chickens
CALLERY – Nearly 20 borough residents, including children, packed the borough’s council meeting Tuesday evening to defend their beloved pets: backyard chickens.
“It’s safe to say that everybody here cares about Callery borough,” said Cranberry resident Jennifer Flickinger. “We care about the community, its cleanliness, and we care about its property values.”
Flickinger represented her parents — who have lived in the borough for more than 30 years — as well as a growing number of residents who were concerned with the area’s ban on backyard chickens.
“Now, I’ve heard the story of the cow down the street, and I’ve heard the story of the peacocks and chaos that seemed to reign,” Flickinger said. “We’re not asking for chaos or cows or peacocks — we’re asking for backyard hens, with reasonable regulations.”
Flickinger presented a petition to the council — signed by 56 residents — asking the borough to introduce an ordinance allowing backyard chickens. She collected her signatures over only two days: New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
“There was one couple — the boyfriend came to the door and the lady of the house was getting ready, because it was New Year’s Eve,” Flickinger said with a laugh. “When she heard what we were getting the petition for, she actually came out in her bathrobe to sign, because she was so enthusiastic about it.”
Flickinger’s husband, Michael Flickinger, provided the council with copies of neighboring Evans City borough’s ordinance on backyard chickens.
“What I like about the Evans City regulations is that they have chickens permitted by permit,” said Michael Flickinger. “They have a bunch of reasonable regulations, for example: noise, you can’t have noisy chickens; they need to be sanitary; they need to be in a proved enclosure.”
The Evans City permit costs $25 per year and can be revoked for breaking regulations. Michael Flickinger argued that a similar permit would offset any cost for the ordinance and allow the borough to maintain a reasonable standard for chickens as pets.
“It puts the power in the hands of the borough,” Michael Flickinger said.
Many Callery residents have chickens, unaware of the borough’s stance. Some even keep them for reasons of health.
“I just recently moved to Callery,” said resident Tina Fazio. “My chickens are emotional support chickens.”
Fazio and her daughter, Sage, raised their chickens as emotional support animals before coming to Callery. Sage had even trained some of their chickens.
“The chickens are like family,” said Fazio. “Our chickens are really well-kept — it’s sad.”
Callery borough’s council president Rose Wirtz explained that the petition would first have to be presented to the borough’s solicitor.
“We will respond to them in writing,” Wirtz said. “Hopefully within thirty days.”
