North Tonawanda, New York Development News

City Council Workshop Discusses Outdated Livestock and Milk Codes, Considers Revisions

The City Council held a workshop to discuss potential changes to city codes, specifically Chapter 57 (Livestock) and Chapter 59 (Milk). The code maintenance committee has been reviewing these codes, which are largely outdated, with Chapter 59 adopted in 1929 and Chapter 57 in 1958. For Chapter 59 (Milk), the proposed change is to update the verbiage to align with current USDA and NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets regulations, rather than deleting it entirely, to reflect modern food safety standards. For Chapter 57 (Livestock), discussions included potential allowances for bees and ducks, with significant debate regarding the process of code changes, the impact of new regulations, and the role of departments and the legal system in enforcement. Concerns were raised about moving too quickly with code changes, the potential for unintended consequences, and the need for thorough review and departmental input before council action. Specific issues discussed included the impact of TNVR on rat populations, the allowance of community cats, and the challenges in enforcing existing codes through the court system. The committee aims to proceed methodically and invites broader participation in future discussions.