Following is the letter to the editor of the Sanford Herald I submitted and was published on Sunday Aug. 10. It pretty much explains our state of things.
"Aug. 12 our family will move our pets after a board of appeals meeting. I anticipate loosing that appeal based on ordinance 4.5 stating no chickens (of which I was cited), despite ordinance 4.6 speaking as to how to take care of ones coop. This inconsistency of ordinance exemplifies reactionary measures our leaders have left Sanford citizens to cope with.
So far we have been unable to capture Councils ear on the chicken issue regardless of presenting a reasonably sound ordinance including in part (for space):
R12 zone, no apartments, subdivisions, or renters.
50 feet from any dwelling, 150 feet from school, church, or business.
Hens only. Max 10.
No commercial purpose (pets only).
No slaughter.
Even requiring a permit to secure city satisfaction.
I have attempted to address the issues of “Pandora’s Box” so often spoken about. It should be known that the enduring box carried more than mankinds evils. It carried hope too. And with that hope our family will continue our efforts on the pet chicken ordinance. We purchased our last bag of feed tody. We will not submit our forms for the Fair as our birds will go through a stressful transition at their new home. We will pickle the last of our fresh eggs for school snacks.
Pets aside, this issue touches the economy, education, health, support of local business, family hobby, pride, environment and more. And it has exposed leadership questions of our City Council.
I encourage you to read through the articles written about this topic posted on my blog (http://savethesanfordcitychickens.blogspot.com/ )and specifically pay attention to the quotes of our city officials themselves. If you don’t do internet, please call me and I will give you hard copies of the media. We need our City leaders to represent the vision and values Sanford purports. We need our leaders to lead!"
