The chickens must
go, judge rules

A Municipal Court judge has ruled that a Somerton woman cannot keep chickens, geese or any other farm animal at her home.
Judge Alan K. Silberstein decided against Jeanne Smith a little more than a week after her Jan. 25 court hearing.
Smith, of 504 Buxmont St., was challenging a city ordinance, passed in July 2004, that prohibits farm animals on residential properties.
The homeowner thinks her animals should be allowed to stay because they were there long before the city passed its ordinance.
In addition, she contends that the city selectively enforces the ordinance.
Also, she believes she qualifies under the educational exemption because she brings the birds into schools to teach the students about how a chick is hatched.
Silberstein, though, ruled that Smith’s school visits don’t rise to the level of an educational facility.
Paula Gates, her attorney, noted that, during the hearing, the judge cut short Smith’s detailed explanation of what happens when she brings the birds into a classroom.
Smith has 30 days from the Feb. 2 ruling to file a notice of appeal with Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.
Meanwhile, Smith’s chickens and geese remain at suburban farms.
She placed them there to avoid fines and because she feared the city would take possession of and destroy the birds.
Earlier, her ducks were taken to the Cranaleith Spiritual Center on Proctor Road.
Neighbors are divided, with some saying the birds are smelly and noisy and others saying they aren’t a nuisance at all. ••