Resident says code enforcement targeted her over ducks; council puts ordinance changes on hold for review

Joy Baldinari of 2905 Greenwalt Road told council during public comments that since July her family has felt targeted by code enforcement over a cited violation for keeping ducks. Baldinari said she reviewed the municipal ordinance before the family acquired ducks and the language did not prohibit them; she said code enforcement later claimed ducks were a gallinaceous species and issued a violation.

Baldinari said the municipality later voted to change the ordinance to include ducks and that she received a subsequent violation after keeping ducks when she believed they were allowed. She said county and state staff later inspected and approved the family's manure management plan and that the family remains unsure whether they are in violation because they have not received written confirmation from the municipality.

Baldinari asked the council when the ordinance would be amended to remove ducks or when her family would be notified that they are not in violation or grandfathered. She said her family feels harassed and has not received recent responses to communications.

Council responded that the ordinance has been put on hold and that staff will review policies and regulations at an upcoming committee meeting to consider how to handle keeping ducks and related rules. Council did not provide a specific timeline for written confirmation to Baldinari during the meeting.

The remarks were made during the public-comment portion of the Oct. 13 meeting; no formal enforcement action or final ordinance language was announced at the meeting.