SAUGUS — The Board of Health began a discussion in February on amending the animal regulation article. Monday, they closed the discussion unanimously, voting yes to the amendments to Article 10 Keeping of Animals in Saugus.
The amendments include banning roosters, which are a nuisance animal in many parts of the United States.
“We did vote to continue that public hearing to this evening following a public comment period. In that time, we did receive two public comments,” Director of Public Health John Fralick said.
He continued that no other public comments had been received since then.
“I do want to reiterate that some of these amendments to this particular article are going to aid in the department as far as enforcement is concerned. It adds a little bit of teeth to what we’re trying to do as far as regulating animal populations, as well as any sort of nuisance animals or other at-risk conditions that may arise due to the keeping of animals,” Fralick said.
He then made a recommendation to the board to hold a roll call vote.
“I would make a recommendation to the board that we hold a vote to amend the current article, Article 10 Keeping of Animals, and make this particular correspondence effective immediately to coincide with the warmer months that are coming up,” Fralick said.
Before the board voted, member Dr. Anthony Bakopolus commented on his changed perspective on the amendments, specifically with the rooster.
“I was against this in the beginning, but I’ve talked to people and apparently, inherently, a rooster is a nuisance almost by definition,” Bakopolus said.
Fralick commented that more than half of the state has some kind of language banning the rooster, and both he and Chair Maria Tamagna noted how aggressive roosters can be.
“We will join the over 150 other towns and cities that have the language,” Fralick said.
Tamagna joked that the town was not trying to show prejudice towards roosters and Fralick stated that it was just about cleaning up the amendments.
It was a 4-0 vote in favor of the ban. Member Geraldine Gatchell was absent from this meeting.
