Mayor Bill Welch may exercise his option to veto an ordinance that would allow borough residents to raise chickens, despite a 4-3 vote Monday in favor of the proposal.
"The mayor will take this under advisement in that regard," Welch said. "Just keeping my options open."
The veto option -- which Welch said he has used twice in his 15 years as mayor --can only exercised when there is a 4-3 vote and will be available to him for the next 10 days.
"I will read the ordinance closely and I have some questions for staff about the impact," he said.
The ordinance allows borough residents who obtain a $15 permit to keep up to four chickens in backyard coops that satisfy a series of zoning and health requirements. Roosters are only allowed on properties that are 10 acres or larger.
Prospective chicken owner Lisa Baumgartner, who spearheaded the ordinance process in May, said she was pleased with the measure's tentative approval.
"This isn't really outside the boundaries of what people are doing in urban areas," she said. "It's just new for us."
The issue sharply divided the seven borough council members.
Council Member Silvi Lawrence, who voted against the measure, said the "very weakly-written" legislation was lax on enforcement, as it does not require regular coop inspections.
Council Members Donald Hahn and Ronald Filippelli also voted against the measure.
Council Members Elizabeth Goreham, Theresa Lafer, James Rosenberger and Peter Morris supported the proposal.
Earlier in the night, a public hearing regarding the chicken ordinance drew a passionate response from those on both sides of the issue.
Mary Haight, who raised 12 to 16 chickens on a 100-acre farm for more than 20 years, said the birds are "business-like, sweet-tempered animals" that would be an asset to the State College community.
"I think it's in the same spirit as having a family garden where you grow your own lettuce and tomatoes," she said. "We're not that urban that we can't have chickens under the specifics you've outlined in the ordinance."
Former Council Member Jerry Wettstone said the ordinance will lead to decreased property values for homes in the borough.
"I shudder to think about what the impact would be on the seller who has a roost next door," he said. "I just don't think this is a wise ordinance to be passing."
The council also voted to move a zoning amendment that would permit dog grooming under existing home occupation legislation to a work session in January.
