Fall River Board of Health approves multiple backyard-animal permits with standard conditions

The Fall River Board of Health unanimously approved several residential animal-keeping permit applications at its virtual meeting on June 29, issuing the board’s standard conditions — no roosters, a required rodent-extermination contract and a requirement that owners keep only the approved number of animals.

Board chair Thomas Corey called the applications and asked inspectors to present findings before each vote. Jay Fernandez, the inspector on several cases, told the board the property at 175 Sprag Street was “very new condition, very clean,” and recommended approval for Jose Padza Melendez with the three standard conditions. The board voted to grant the variance and limited the applicant to the number of hens requested.

The board also approved an application for Michael St. Pierre of 377 Quinsey Street after St. Pierre explained he had accepted four additional chicks from a school environmental program after filing his application. St. Pierre said he raised older birds so they could “live out their life” and that he had taken in the chicks because the school had no place to keep them. Board members characterized the situation as a special circumstance and approved the increased count on a unanimous roll call.

Inspectors reported that Russell Haskell’s property at 66 Merit Street — listed as 20 chickens and six rabbits — is recovering from a recent fire but otherwise meets requirements; the board noted an objection letter had been received and nevertheless approved the application with standard conditions.

For 266 Glasgow Street, Alex Arut spoke on behalf of his father Manuel Aruda and said requested yard cleanups (removal or storage of car parts and tires) had been completed after an inspection. The board approved six chickens, one miniature goat and six rabbits, conditioning the approval on a follow-up inspection by Jay Fernandez to confirm the removals.

Finally, Linder and Richard Sylvia’s application for four chickens at 2123 Highland Avenue was approved after the board confirmed abutter notification procedures had been followed. Neighbor Holly Donovan raised concerns about rodents being drawn to chicken feed; board members responded that the rodent-extermination contract is a standing requirement and said inspectors regularly monitor compliance.

All permit votes recorded the same roll call pattern: Thomas Corey, Michael Coughlin and Steven Gagliardi voting yes. Board members reiterated that approvals were granted with the conditions spelled out in the department’s rules and that permit holders must remain within the numerically approved limits.

The board closed the batch of permit items and moved on to a separate public hearing on tobacco regulation.