The lengthy process to whittle down criteria for a backyard chicken pilot program came under fire at the Chatham-Kent Council meeting Monday night.
South Kent Councillor Trevor Thompson took issue with the never ending amendments and boldly told his colleagues that the excruciating one hour process is a perfect example of why Council shouldn't be shooting from the hip when drafting policy.
Thompson said the entire one hour process was mind numbing.
"I just think this is really good example of why we should not create policy on the fly. This has been embarrassing and painful," said Thompson.
Thompson even questioned what Council had been doing for the previous hour, hinting Council meetings should not be turned into workshops.
"I appreciate when staff comes up with policy and we give them direction because this feels like one of the 882 days we have left," the Ward 2 Councilor said.
Thompson was referring to the days councillors had left in their term before the next municipal election on October 26, 2026.
Mayor Darrin Canniff even joked the several amendments Monday night set a record.
Wallaceburg Councillor Carmen McGregor suggested that the pilot project should be done in South Kent since it was being driven by councillors in that area, but that fell flat.
Councillors eventually approved criteria for the backyard chicken pilot program for rural and village properties only, not urban centres like Chatham, Wallaceburg, or Blenheim.
Public consultation with deputations will still be needed before the bylaw and the pilot are given final approval by Council.
