Meeting Notes: Village of Warwick Chicken Ordinance Committee (aka “The Cluck Committee”)

Date: September 24, 2025 Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. (approx.) Location: Village Hall Meeting Room

Attendees:
V. of Warwick Trustee, Carly Foster (Facilitator)
V. of Warwick Deputy, Mayor Barry Cheney
Village Resident, Jim Neujar
Village Resident, Brian Torpie
Village Resident, Donna Douglas

1. Meeting Objective

This was the first meeting of the temporary committee. The primary objective was to establish working guidelines, agree on the committee’s purpose and schedule, and begin identifying the key issues to be addressed in forming a recommendation for the Village Board regarding the raising of chickens.

2. Community Guidelines & Decision Making

The committee reviewed and agreed upon a set of community guidelines for their work:

• Dialogue over Debate: The goal is to collaborate on a shared solution, not to win arguments.
• Respect for Neighbors: Maintain a respectful and considerate tone.
• One Speaker at a Time: Avoid talking over one another.
• Keep the Process Fun: Approach the work with a positive and open mindset.

Decision-Making Process:

• The committee will strive to make recommendations through consensus.
• A majority vote will be used as a fallback if consensus cannot be reached, though the hope is to avoid it.

3. Committee Purpose & Charter

• The group is a temporary committee tasked with determining the criteria under which raising chickens in the village would be viable and permissible.
• The final deliverable will be a clear, actionable recommendation to the Village Board, which will likely include proposed ordinance language.
• The committee’s work is to support the Board’s decision-making process by providing well-researched and specific guidance.
• The board will have the final decision on whether to proceed with any and all recommendations. 

4. Proposed Schedule & Timeline

The committee discussed and aligned on a proposed three-to-four-month schedule:

Milestone 1:

• Finalize charter and process.
• Identify key issues, questions, and considerations.
• Define authoritative sources, experts, and communities to consult.
• Gather and review example ordinances and case studies.

Milestone 2:

• Consult with identified experts, stakeholders, and other communities.
• Gather additional data and feedback.

Milestone 3:

• Begin drafting the recommendation and proposed ordinance language.
• (The committee noted that the holiday season might affect this timeline).

Milestone 4: Presentation (January/February):

• Present the final recommendation and draft ordinance to the Village Board. The committee agreed it would be ideal for all members to be present for this.

5. Transparency and Note-Taking

• The Committee will use an AI tool to summarize discussions. 
• A Trustee will review the notes/minutes.
• The finalized summary will be posted on the village website to keep the process transparent, similar to the Memorial Park Master Plan process.

6. Key Issues & Considerations Brainstorm

The committee began identifying the key topics that the ordinance will need to address:

Zoning & Eligibility:

• Minimum lot size (noted that many villages focus on setbacks instead).
• Property setback requirements for coops.
• Density (e.g., maximum number of chickens per square foot).

Community & Neighbor Impacts:

• Noise (especially from roosters).
• Pest control (e.g., rodents attracted to feed).
• Predator control (foxes, raccoons, etc.).
• Odor and waste management.
• Aesthetics.

Housing & Containment:

• Requirements for coops and enclosures.
• Rules regarding “free-ranging” vs. full-time containment to prevent wandering.
• Humane treatment and conditions.

Management & Regulations:

• Permitting system and potential fees.
• Requirement for owner education or training courses.
• Type of fowl allowed (e.g., only hens, no roosters, no ducks).
• Use considerations (e.g., for eggs/pets only, no sale of products or use for meat).
• Enforcement procedures for violations.

Public Health:

• Proper waste disposal and sanitation.

7. Authoritative Sources

The group identified potential sources for research and guidance:

• Other Villages: Specifically, those that have recently adopted chicken ordinances, to learn about their process and any issues encountered following adoption.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension: Recognized as a key expert resource.
• Governmental or Institutional Research: Peer-reviewed studies on related topics.
• Community Input: Gathering concerns and perspectives from village residents, potentially through a survey. A suggestion was made to provide both online (Google Forms) and paper survey options.

8. Decisions Made

1. The proposed community guidelines were adopted.
2. The committee agreed to operate on a consensus-based model.
3. The proposed four-month timeline was accepted as a working goal, with the acknowledgment that the holidays will likely push that out.
4. Meetings will be one hour.

9. Action Items

1. Carly: Share the Google Drive folder with all committee members.
2. Brian: Transcribe/summarize this meeting’s discussion and share it with the committee.
3. All Members: Come to the next meeting prepared with ideas for questions to include in a community survey.
4. All Members: Research and bring ideas for specific experts, communities, or resources the committee should engage for guidance.

Next Meeting – October 1, 2025

Tentative Agenda:

1. Discuss and outline content for a community survey.
2. Define questions for experts and resources
3. Identify and prioritize a list of experts and resources to consult.