Harold’s Blog: From Jerk Chicken to Cary Chickens

From the blog of Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, covering the week through April 29, 2012. Photo by Sarah Ackerman.

Cary, NC – This week was a vacation week for me so there is not a lot to report.

Silver Anniversary in Jamaica

On Sunday morning my wife and I took a flight to Jamaica to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. It was a fantastic vacation with beautiful weather, beautiful surroundings, and a resort with great service.

My impression of Jamaica is that it is a beautiful country with loving people, most of whom are extremely poor. There appears to be no middle class at all. You either live in a mansion or in a tiny shack. My understanding is that the country experienced significant deforesting and over fishing over the years. And now the people rely mostly on tourism.

We are all extremely blessed not to have to face the daily survival issues that the Jamaican people have to face.

Chickens in Cary

Since I have returned, I have been playing catch up on messages and emails.

Staff sent an email related to the chicken ordinance that needs to be emphasized. It states:

“This Ordinance is not intended to revoke or repeal any easement, covenant, or other private agreement. However, where the regulations of this Ordinance are more restrictive or impose higher standards or requirements than such easement, covenant, or other private agreement, then the requirements of this Ordinance shall govern. Nothing in this Ordinance shall modify or repeal any private covenant or deed restriction, but such covenant or restriction shall not excuse any failure to comply with this Ordinance. In no case shall the Town be obligated to enforce the provisions of any easements, covenants, or agreements between private parties.”

In layman’s terms, if you live in a subdivision that doesn’t allow livestock in your Homeowner Association covenants (that all residents of the homeowner association agree to), then you will not be allowed to have chickens. I suspect this will be a point of confusion and create future issues.

Also related to chickens, I received an invitation to go on to the WRAL morning show with Bill and Lynda to talk about chickens. Apparently Lynda likes and wants chickens. We’ll see if this invitation works out.

Emails this week included complaints about the Cary/Chatham joint land use plan, a complaint about a needed guardrail, complaints about development in the downtown site known as the “opportunity site”, complaints about chickens, and complaints about rezonings.

Next Week Traveling Again

Next week will be another travel week for me. Early in the week I will meet with the Wake County Legislative delegation. Then on Wednesday I, along with four council members and a host of people from Cary will travel to Austin, Texas for an intercity visit. We will return on Friday night.

Well that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, April 29th. Please feel free to email me with a comment. Email all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org. Email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.