Bird is the word

The Belgium Village Board on Monday will debate whether to allow residents to keep as many as four chickens in their backyards.

The Public Safety Committee last month recommended allowing the feathered creatures with a number of stipulations: a $30 license fee for the first year with a $10 renewal; that chicken coops are at least 25 feet from other structures and no heat lamps are allowed in coops; no roosters; no selling of eggs; owners must notify neighbors and those living at addresses the village lists on a web page; and properties must be inspected by the village marshal each year.

The debate was hatched in spring when resident Megan Phillips started a change.org petition to allow chickens in the village.

Monday’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Village Hall.