Community council flips backyard chicken vote
Charles Edwards
The Lehigh Acres Community Council has done a reversal on its vote to prohibit residents from having backyard chickens, a stance it took at a previous meeting.
More than 25 people turned out Aug. 15 to ask about the reversal from what they had been told earlier – that the issue was going to be forward to Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann with some restrictions, one of which was to exclude duplexes.
“We’re not going away,” said Charles Edwards, a supporter of the measure to allow the chickens.
The group, which filled the side of the room at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office East District headquarters, agreed and applauded.
Many had to stand because there were not enough chairs for the attendees.
MEL TOADVINE Lehigh Acres Community Council Chairman Rick Anglickis explains the last vote against backyard chickens. At right is Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann.
When the last vote was taken, few council members were on hand. The issue was brought up again and it failed by one vote.
Edwards said he thought the issue had been finalized at the prior meeting and that the resolution was being sent on to Mann.
“The issue was settled here at the community council meeting and then we read in the paper that it had come up again and had failed, when it had already passed,”?he said. “We don’t understand.”
Board Member Rick Anglickis said the issue could be brought up again if there was interest in doing so by the council.
Frank LaRosa, a council member, motioned to reconsider the motion and send a letter to the Lee County Commission with the full support of the council.
MEL TOADVINE Charles Edwards asks for a new vote about backyard chickens.
The motion was seconded, and the council overwhelmingly voted in favor.
It was LaRosa’s last bit of business on the council because at the end of the meeting he resigned.
Robert Saul, who voted against the measure, said his condo association opposed backyard chickens and implored him to vote against the issue when it came up.
Several attendees voiced their concerns and said they supported the backyard chicken proposal.
When asked if anyone there opposed the measure, there was no response from the crowd.
MEL TOADVINE A large group of residents turned out on Aug. 15 at the Lehigh Acres Community Council meeting to demand a re-vote of the backyard chicken issue.
When the final vote was taken, supporters of the measure clapped, shouted and thanked the council for the change.
Mann asked to be heard.
“Now, this doesn’t mean it is automatically going to be passed by the county,” he said.
Mann noted that as chairman of the commission, he could not offer a motion to allow for backyard chickens in Lehigh.
“You have to get the other commissioners on your side,” he said. “And you do realize this affects all of unincorporated county.”
Mann noted that it is an election year, so the supporters may want to contact the commissioners.
“I will let the commissioners know that this board in Lehigh has voted tonight to allow backyard chicken growing,”?he said. “I, as chairman, cannot make a motion on the board. Someone else will have to do that.”
Mann acknowledged that his office has received emails and letters in support of the measure.
“I would say it is about 10 to one in favor,” he said.
If the commission approves it, then the measure goes on the ballot for the voters to decide.
“With this vote tonight by the Lehigh (Acres) Community Council, we are back where we started, but that does not guarantee its final passage,”?Mann said. “You need to attend the county commissioners meetings and you need to get in touch with others on the board and share the fact that there is great interest in allowing backyard chicken growing.
“You need three commissioners to vote for your measure – that’s me and two more. Without a majority vote, the measure goes nowhere,” he said.
Mann noted that the supporters did the right thing by coming back and letting their feelings be known.
“Now as you all know this does not represent the incorporated cities of the county, just the areas that are not incorporated,” he said.
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- MEL TOADVINE Lehigh Acres Community Council Chairman Rick Anglickis explains the last vote against backyard chickens. At right is Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann.
-
- MEL TOADVINE Charles Edwards asks for a new vote about backyard chickens.
-
- MEL TOADVINE A large group of residents turned out on Aug. 15 at the Lehigh Acres Community Council meeting to demand a re-vote of the backyard chicken issue.
Community council flips backyard chicken vote
Charles Edwards
The Lehigh Acres Community Council has done a reversal on its vote to prohibit residents from having backyard chickens, a stance it took at a previous meeting.
More than 25 people turned out Aug. 15 to ask about the reversal from what they had been told earlier – that the issue was going to be forward to Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann with some restrictions, one of which was to exclude duplexes.
“We’re not going away,” said Charles Edwards, a supporter of the measure to allow the chickens.
The group, which filled the side of the room at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office East District headquarters, agreed and applauded.
Many had to stand because there were not enough chairs for the attendees.
MEL TOADVINE Lehigh Acres Community Council Chairman Rick Anglickis explains the last vote against backyard chickens. At right is Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann.
When the last vote was taken, few council members were on hand. The issue was brought up again and it failed by one vote.
Edwards said he thought the issue had been finalized at the prior meeting and that the resolution was being sent on to Mann.
“The issue was settled here at the community council meeting and then we read in the paper that it had come up again and had failed, when it had already passed,”?he said. “We don’t understand.”
Board Member Rick Anglickis said the issue could be brought up again if there was interest in doing so by the council.
Frank LaRosa, a council member, motioned to reconsider the motion and send a letter to the Lee County Commission with the full support of the council.
MEL TOADVINE Charles Edwards asks for a new vote about backyard chickens.
The motion was seconded, and the council overwhelmingly voted in favor.
It was LaRosa’s last bit of business on the council because at the end of the meeting he resigned.
Robert Saul, who voted against the measure, said his condo association opposed backyard chickens and implored him to vote against the issue when it came up.
Several attendees voiced their concerns and said they supported the backyard chicken proposal.
When asked if anyone there opposed the measure, there was no response from the crowd.
MEL TOADVINE A large group of residents turned out on Aug. 15 at the Lehigh Acres Community Council meeting to demand a re-vote of the backyard chicken issue.
When the final vote was taken, supporters of the measure clapped, shouted and thanked the council for the change.
Mann asked to be heard.
“Now, this doesn’t mean it is automatically going to be passed by the county,” he said.
Mann noted that as chairman of the commission, he could not offer a motion to allow for backyard chickens in Lehigh.
“You have to get the other commissioners on your side,” he said. “And you do realize this affects all of unincorporated county.”
Mann noted that it is an election year, so the supporters may want to contact the commissioners.
“I will let the commissioners know that this board in Lehigh has voted tonight to allow backyard chicken growing,”?he said. “I, as chairman, cannot make a motion on the board. Someone else will have to do that.”
Mann acknowledged that his office has received emails and letters in support of the measure.
“I would say it is about 10 to one in favor,” he said.
If the commission approves it, then the measure goes on the ballot for the voters to decide.
“With this vote tonight by the Lehigh (Acres) Community Council, we are back where we started, but that does not guarantee its final passage,”?Mann said. “You need to attend the county commissioners meetings and you need to get in touch with others on the board and share the fact that there is great interest in allowing backyard chicken growing.
“You need three commissioners to vote for your measure – that’s me and two more. Without a majority vote, the measure goes nowhere,” he said.
Mann noted that the supporters did the right thing by coming back and letting their feelings be known.
“Now as you all know this does not represent the incorporated cities of the county, just the areas that are not incorporated,” he said.
-
- MEL TOADVINE Lehigh Acres Community Council Chairman Rick Anglickis explains the last vote against backyard chickens. At right is Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann.
-
- MEL TOADVINE Charles Edwards asks for a new vote about backyard chickens.
-
- MEL TOADVINE A large group of residents turned out on Aug. 15 at the Lehigh Acres Community Council meeting to demand a re-vote of the backyard chicken issue.
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