Local Meeting Roundup.

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Grafton

Chickens allowed in certain zones

GRAFTON - Backyard chickens will be allowed in three residential districts, voters at the annual town meeting agreed late Monday night.

Article 49, which amends the Zoning Bylaws to allow up to six domestic female chicks and hens for personal consumption and enjoyment, passed by a two-thirds majority after approximately 45 minutes of discussion and a failed amendment that would have increased the allowed number of chickens to nine.

Roosters are only allowed by special permit.

Under the amendment, backyard chickens are allowed in neighborhoods zoned for agriculture (less than five acres) for residential lots of at least 40,000 square feet and for residential lots of at least 20,000 square feet. A special permit for chickens is required in all other zoning districts.

Opponents cited concerns about enforcing the bylaw, fear of a large number of chickens in a residential neighborhood and general health concerns, Assistant Town Manager Kevin J. Mizikar said.

Voters also voted by a two-thirds majority to put aside $700,000 in the municipal capital stabilization account or stabilization account, which Mr. Mizikar said might be considered for a new energy proposal. If an energy proposal is developed, it would be brought to town meeting in the fall for approval.

- Susan Spencer

Fitchburg

Councilor outraged over streetlight payments

FITCHBURG - City Councilor Stephan Hay said he was outraged over the mayor's unilateral decision several months ago to have the city assume payments for residents who were paying for their own streetlights.

At last night's City Council meeting, Mr. Hay said he didn't know $40,000 in additional money for streetlights included money for lights that residents paid Unitil directly to keep on. The city is assuming the responsibility to pay for those lights. When the issue was discussed at a meeting six months ago, he said he spoke against it and was under the impression the mayor would come back to councilors with a final plan. Several years ago, the majority of streetlights were turned off in the city to save money while officials negotiated with Unitil to purchase them.

Mr. Hay said the decision incensed him because it rewarded those who could afford to pay for their own streetlights, while those who could not were still left in the dark. There are more important lights that need to be turned on, Mr. Hay said, and the provision favors the "haves over the...