April 25, 2024
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Mayor Burns breaks tie on chicken ‘no’ vote in Geneva

Not enough support for backyard chickens results in no clucking, no eggs, no feathers

By Brenda Schory

Jeanette Armbrust feeds two of her five chickens in the backyard of her Batavia home. This week, the Geneva Committee of the Whole voted down an ordinance that would have allowed back yard chickens – with Mayor Kevin Burns breaking a 4-4 tie vote twice. (Sandy Bressner photo)

GENEVA – Chickens won’t be coming home to roost in Geneva any time soon.

After nearly two hours of discussion at the Aug. 2 Committee of the Whole, aldermen voted 4-4 tie twice – with two absent – on a proposed chicken ordinance. Mayor Kevin Burns broke both ties by adding his no vote. The mayor is allowed to vote in the case of a tie.

Aldermen considered a proposed ordinance that would have allowed chickens in single family residential areas. Proposed rules included allowing up to six hens in pens or coops, no roosters, maintenance and cleanliness to avoid odors and no selling of chickens or eggs.

It was under consideration because neighboring towns such as Batavia and St. Charles allow backyard chickens in residential areas.

Aldermen went through a variety of amendments – to the point of requiring 15,000 square feet of space for the birds, allowing only 20 permits – and a one-year trial.

Though aldermen considered sending the matter back to staff for refining, but ultimately the committee voted that down two in the same 4-4 split with Burns breaking that tie.

“Regrettably – and I’m certain I’ll receive lots of emails because this is the second time I’ve broken a tie – I will vote no on this,” Burns said.

Burns broke a 5-5 tie at Committee of the Whole in 2012 not to allow chickens.

Voting yes were 1st Ward Alderman Tara Burghart, 3rd Ward Alderman Becky Hruby, 4th Ward Alderman Amy Mayer and 5th Ward Aldlerman Robert Swanson.

Voting no were 2nd Ward Alderman Bradley Kosirog, 3rd Ward Alderman Dean Kilburg, 4th Ward Alderman Gabriel Kaven and 5th Ward Alderman Craig Maladra.

First Ward Alderman Michael Bruno and 2nd Ward Alderman Richard Marks were absent.

“I think the fact that we have spoken for now – what? An hour and 45 minutes on an issue that I think a lot of people are passionate about, certainly interested in,” Burns said.

“But I think we have done a Simone Biles version – if you will – of the twisties on this thing. And I think it speaks to me that there’s a lot of uncertainty and a lot of nervousness … It strikes me as something that we’re trying to fit in, but we’re not terribly married to one way or another.”

Virtually everybody has said that the city’s code enforcement officer, building department, and police officers who will likely receive the first calls “are far too busy to deal with something like this,” Burns said.

Geneva City CouncilGeneva