The Herndon mayor and Town Council deferred action and continued the public hearing, last Tuesday, Jan. 13, on amending an ordinance that governs the ability to keep fowl within town limits. The proposed ordinance would restrict residents to one fowl within town limits. The matter will be taken up again in 28 days.
The issue first surfaced in November when the council opted to continue the public hearing rather than take action at that time. The issue of chickens, or other fowl, as pets should come before the council again at the end of February.
In addition, the council amended the town's special handling fee for trash. In a 5-2 vote, with council members Dennis Husch and Connie Hutchinson opposed, the council reduced the fee from $50 to $25. The town imposes a fee when residents are found to be in violation of the waste disposal regulations by either not properly disposing of their trash or exceeding the per household limit. Hutchinson had attempted to defer action for 60 days, but the motion failed for a lack of a second.
On Jan. 21, the mayor and Town Council are expected to hold a public hearing on the proposed text amendment to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation regulations, which would revise the overlay district and the Resource Protection Areas.
Also on the agenda, the council will take testimony on the proposed mid-year budget amendments for the fiscal year 2004 adopted budget.