Town Council and Hens - Part 2

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Town Council and Hens Part 1

The meeting did not turn out in our favor. The council voted 4-3, in favor of doing nothing. They essentially stated that they would not vote to allow hens regardless of what a staff committee gave as a recommendation. It’s good to know that some of the council members are very close minded. Better to find this out on a not so critical issue.

Voted to investigate further:

  • Gale Adcock, District “D” Representative
  • Jennifer Robinson, District “A” Representative
  • Julie Aberg Robison, Mayor Pro Tem, “At-Large” Representative

Voted to do nothing:

  • Harold Weinbrecht – mayor
  • Jack Smith, District “C” Representative
  • Don Frantz, District “B” Representative
  • Ervin Portman, “At-Large” Representative

Alissa spoke amazingly well during the 3 minute “public speaks out” portion of the meeting. She spoke clearly and countered all of the major concerns raised prior to the meeting. She even managed to fit it all in with a few seconds to spare. The meeting went on for several more hours (5-6) before they arrived at the vote to investigate this further. That is when a few of the council members showed that they are unprofessional and disregard community feedback.

Don Frantz was the rudest with his comment “quite frankly the only chicken I want to see is in the frozen-food section of the grocery store or on a plate right in front of me, because it’s 12:30 [a.m.] and I’m starving.” He also clearly stated that he would disregard any staff recommendations and vote against allowing chickens, if the vote was ever brought before the council. If a person is physically or mentally unable (or willing) to sit through a long meeting required of the position, they should step down.

We left the meeting very annoyed, yet motivated. I proceeded to set up CaryChickens.com as an information resource and a mailing list to help organize all of the citizens in Cary who want hens. We received many emails in support, have had quite a few people contact us through the new website and new subscribers to the mailing list. We have not started a petition yet, but that will not be too far off.

A request for public records submitted to the town clerk turned out to be very enlightening. Of the emails that the council turned over (still waiting on Jennifer Robinson), there were 11 emails in favor and 4 against. All of the council members did not turn over every email on the topic. We know this because a few individuals had CC’d us with either the email they sent to the council members or with the responses. I view this lack of disclosure as a serious issue and I will push to get it resolved.

The record request also showed that Mayor Harold Weinbrecht is strongly opposed to allowing chickens. He forwarded all of the negative feedback to the other council members, but none of the emails that were pro-chicken. Between this “censorship” and the lack of disclosure to the public records request, I will now have to educate the public to only email council@townofcary.org and CC Sue Rowland, the town clerk. Emailing a council member directly has shown to be a subjective void.

Other sites/stories related to the council meeting

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