Chicken ordinance passes
By Robert Cloud
City council members in New London voted to against giving themselves pay raises to take effect following the next election.
An ordinance authorizing pay increases for elected officials was on the agenda for a first reading at the council’s Oct. 17 meeting.
The higher compensation, which the Finance and Personnel Committee recommended on Oct. 4, proposed giving the mayor a base annual salary of $8,400 annually, plus $40 per meeting attended and $60 per meeting when serving as a committee chair.
Annual salaries for alderpersons would increase to $4,000 and they would also receive $40 per meeting attended and $60 per meeting for a committee chair.
When it came time to discuss raising the compensation for elected city officials, Bob Besaw immediately introduced amendments to the proposed ordinance.
His amendments were to keep the mayor’s salary at $6,4000 per year and the council members salaries at $3,000 per year.
Payment for meetings for both the mayor and council members were amended to $30 for attending and $50 for chairing the meeting.
He also amended the proposed ordinance to authorize paying citizen members $30 instead of $40 per meeting for the Parks and Recreation Committee, Planning Commission and Economic Development Committee.
The council approved the amendments by a vote of 6-4.
Ald. Besaw, BaLynda Croy, John Hass. John Faucher, Bernie Ritchie and Mike Barrington voted in favor of the amendments.
Ald. Dennis Herter, David Dorsey, Tim Roberts and Charlene Magolski voted no.
After approving the amendments, the council voted 8-2 for the amended ordinance.
Herter and Dorsey voted against the ordinance.
Chicken ordinance
City residents will be permitted to have chickens following the second reading and approval of an ordinance that regulates the keeping of chickens.
Under the new ordinance, residents will need to obtain a zoning permit from the Community Development Department in order to keep chickens.
All permit applications must include evidence that the resident has registered the location with the Wisconsin Department of Agricultural Trade and Consumer Protection.
The city will issue one permit per single-family dwelling or for a two-family dwelling with the property owner’s permission.
Any person other than the title owner requesting a chicken permit must provide written consent of the property owner with their application.
Up to four hens will be allowed. Roosters are prohibited.
Chicken coops must be raised up off the ground or placed on a hard surface. Standing water is prohibited.
Coops must also be kept clean of hen droppings, uneaten feed, feathers and other waste daily.
The coop and yard must not become a health, odor or other nuisance.
Coops must be large enough to provide at least 3 square feet per chicken.
Breeding chickens and selling chicks or eggs is prohibited.
The city council passed the chicken ordinance 6-4.
Voting in favor of the ordinance were Besaw, Faucher, Herter, Dorsey and Roberts.
Voting against were Croy, Ritchie, Magolski and Barrington.