Should the rooster be banned from town?

Public comment sought on new animal regulations

By Mark E. Vogler

Does the Board of Health really need to ban the rooster from town and why? Several residents raised those questions at Monday’s (March 10) Board of Health meeting.

One man, playing the devil’s advocate, asked why dogs weren’t treated the same way. “Dogs are noisy. They make more noise than roosters,” the man said.

“I think a dog is worse than a rooster,” he said. The man wanted to know how big problem roosters were in town.

Saugus Director of Public Health John R. Fralick III said he’s received about 10 complaints since taking over as health director. “Probably about twice a year, I’ll get a call about a rooster. It’s not a huge problem,” Fralick said.

Another resident attending Monday’s meeting suggested “rooster collars” as a way to soften the noise of roosters. There could also be a restriction on when roosters are allowed outside, similar to hours that construction crews are supposed to follow when they work in a residential area.

A proposed amendment to Article 10 – the Saugus town code for animal keepers – includes a new section titled “Nuisance Animals,” which states “Roosters shall not be permitted within Town Limits.”

The new language also noted “Any animals deemed to be a nuisance or detrimental to the health and well-being of the public shall be ordered removed by the Saugus Board of Health.”

Board of Health Chair Maria Tamagna said the proposed regulations were modeled after animal keeper regulations in other communities. She also stressed that the proposed regulations aren’t official and that nothing has been decided yet. “Ultimately, the Board will vote,” Tamagna said. “We’re going to take all of these things [public comment] under consideration.”

Board members approved a motion by member Joseph Dorant to open up a public comment period on the new regulations through April 7, the date of the next Board of Health meeting. The motion stipulated that the board will solicit public comment up until the public hearing. Residents who would like to comment on the proposed regulations can email Fralick at jf******@sa*******.gov.

“We’ll be voting on the amendments next month,” Fralick said.

“We’re trying to add some teeth to our enforcement actions,” he said.

Other proposed language includes:

• Under Section 2 for structures: stipulates those buildings, yards and enclosures for horses, cows, goats, swine, sheep, rabbits or poultry “are to be kept in a clean and sanitary condition at all times and shall be subject to animal inspection from the BOH or its authorized agent.”
• Under Section 5 for Pest Control: “Permit holders will be required at all times to employ reasonable pest control methods so as not to create sufficient harborage and/or food sources for rodents and insects.”
• Under Section 6 for Enforcement: “Any person(s) found to be in violation of Saugus Town Code – Article 10 – Keeping of Animals may be subject to fines and citations amounting to no less than (50) dollars per day in which the violations remain. All regulations noted herein shall be enforceable by the Saugus Board of Health or its Authorized Agent.”