Congratulations Victor. This decision is well deserved. I'm extremely glad it all worked out for you. I guess the town officials who called you a "lawbreaker" are eating crow!

Are you kidding me! Judge Katz should be thrown off the bench. I can't believe my tax dollars pays his salary. Where did get his law degree- K-mart? Time to move out of Wayne. Taxes are too high and now chickens in your yard.Hope next time Judge Katz eats a chicken or has an egg he will be reminded how he helped destroy Wayne. Shame on you!

This just shows that if you bribe the right politicians, anything can be done. The law is clearly written, and ruining the lives of those who live around you is wrong. But the politicians, judges, and lawyers are all "whats in it for me" people. Anything can be done with the right amount of money. This is the exact reason why I do not get involved with the politics in the town, because it is all crooked. This is the perfect reason why voting doesn't matter, and I am just glad that I live nowhere near this man.

Congratulations Victor, I'm happy for you and others who want to raise a few chickens for eggs. I know a few people who where waiting on this decision to be made so they also can have a few hens.

Congratulations Victor, glad to see the judge followed the law and not the opinions of your detractors.

cryminknee here comes another law suit thanks to a township council led by scuralli that cannot read and interprit the laws already on the books!

@Stewart, I didn't realize that squiralli could read. News to me. Yes, I decided to learn sarcasm, I have been watching the many council meetings and it is teaching me Wayne English: bully,bully, bully,sarcasm, arrogance, talking down to your bosses (the people who pay your salary: the taxpayers), screaming, banging the desks, making the sign of the cross in a non-religious setting, sounding like squiralli's idol: RUSH (and I don't mean the rock and roll group)

Victor, Congratulations. Your persistence paid off. Be weary of any retaliation.

Glad to see that our municipal judge stepped up. Kudos.

The part that I can't get over is that we had several of our elected officials working on a new ordinance that was never voted on, and apparently they didn't read or understand the existing ordinance. This was a correct decision by Judge Katz and I applaud him for making the decision based on the law, not politics. Guess I can go buy some chickens now. Congratulations Victor. I know this has been a long road for you.

Katz rules Ratz are legal...because thatz what you'll have in your yard if you live next to a chicken-owner.

Oliver Wendall Douglas of Woodlot Farms is now legally a nuisance and a bad neighbor...a victory for Jurkes everywhere in town.

Wayne Misfits are celebrating...free lime slices and wedges for everyone at the corner of Black Oak and Hamburg Tpk.

Thank you for all your support! If anyone is interested in learning more about living a more healthy and sustainable lifestyle please visit my website.

If I can be of any help, please call or shoot me an email.

http://www.woodlotfarms.com/
http://www.woodlotfarms.com/Coop_Building_Service.html

The high taxes are paid by everyone. Anyone who feels it necessary to control their neighbors, needs to live in a private community or townhouse/condo/coop association.

As much as I disagree about this whole chicken thing I must respect the law. The law wasn't recently implemented, its been here for years so I don't get why everyone is now crying and pointing fingers based on the law. Maybe Wayne can go back to when everyone lived like " The little house on the prairie" I think some people dont know the history of Wayne...

If Alferi finds it so stressful, maybe he should MOVE! I have lived here my whole life and I find him distasteful and his chickens also. I believe Judge Katz your resignation is in order.Resign now before you allow cows and goats to roam free in Wayne.It is just sick! Who paid you off?

Mr. Alfieri was just as much a victim as the neighbor was. Both have suffered from this issue. But the law is the law and the facts are the facts. This case was found not guilty because the current law on the books was in Alfieri's favor. Maybe now that the case has been decided the neighbor and Mr. Alfieri can come to a truce. They have both been mislead by this town and it is not either one of their faults.

To any one who has an issue with what Victor is doing ... You need to have your head removed from your arse ... He is not running a business ... He is growing some fresh food on a very small scale on property he owns ... Government is already way too big and has there eyes and hands where they don't belong !!!

Congradulations Victor
For the past several months you were laughed at, ticketed, ridiculed by our town council, our planning board, and even your own neighbors. Most of them immediately sided with the boards decision for more laws, more rules and regulations and more changes to our lop-sided due process.
The residents are being misled in so many different directions, and on so many different issues right now, it's obvious why they would be so eager to discredit your intentions and ambitions for no other reason than it doesn't agree with their own.
Keep up the good work.

Congratulations! Don't let the negativity of people get in your way! There are a lot of other important things that people should be concerned about-not your chickens!

MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!! Just got on today for the first time(almost over) Did MOST OF YOU wake up this morning upside down on the headboard ? LAW IS LAW.PERIOD!! unless they change it ,it is what it is.NOW CAN'T WE ALL GET ALONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Victor,told you the chickens were ROOSTING for ya. Enjoy your LEGAL EGGS !!!!! They will taste alot better now.

Diane, RESPECT is earned. As long as 475 continues to accept annonymous complaints from "yellow cowards"; and the council, unequivically humiliates and brow-beats the citizens who pay their salary and benefits; there will be no respect. It starts at the top. The attitude of 475, including mayor and council, is unacceptable in a free society. Additionally, where was the respect for the World War II Veteran, when the "anonymous" complainers got their way with 475? He was found dead a year later while his house had been sold for unpaid water bills. RESPECT??? I think not.

@Bill, The clowns belong in a third world dictatorship, not the USA. Vote them out...Impeach them...So much can be done.

For anyone who believes hens are too loud, allow me to introduce you to the new families of blue jays, grackles and crows that wake us up at 5:30 am every morning!!! Do Wayne's "disturbing the peace" regs apply to them?

I am so glad you won, good for you . :)

Scondo, who exactly is that inspector and has she been suspended and retrained? The fact of the matter remains that it was not the friends, family or neighbors who sold the house; but the Township of Wayne.

Scondo, who exactly is that inspector and has she been suspended and retrained? The fact of the matter remains that it was not the friends, family or neighbors who sold the house; but the Township of Wayne..

Congratulations Victor.

I would bet most of these people believe eggs come from Styrofoam and in dozens. OH yeah and with h and antibiotics too and other assorted goodies.

I’m getting many e-mails asking if chickens are now legal in Wayne.
YES owning and raising chickens is LEGAL in Wayne NJ.
Raising chickens was never ILLEGAL in Wayne NJ.

Must Follow This Law Only
§ 68-49. Confinement.
No fowl shall be allowed to fly or run at large, but shall be confined in a suitable house or coop with an enclosed runway.

§ 68-50. Location of coop, house or runway.
No part of any coop, house or runway referred to in § 68-49 shall be less than 25 feet from the doors or windows of any building occupied by human beings, whether for dwelling or business purposes, except by written permission from the Township Health Department. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to poultry kept in live poultry markets and poultry slaughterhouses pursuant to the provisions of Article VII of Chapter 90 of the Code of the Township of Wayne.

Please be responsible. NO ROOSTERS
If you need help with your coop and setup, let me know.
I would be happy to help. http://www.woodlotfarms.com/

B-Gok!
I have some live hens to go purchase for my backyard!
TY Victor :)

Very good VJ
I am happy to see that you and many others still believe that America is the land of the free and we still have rights under the constitution!

We need a good class action. Victor is not the only one.

With times being as hard as they are, is it so wrong to provide your own food? People are ridiculous, how is it selfish to be self-sufficient? Do we forget that there were times that everyone had hens on their property?

Victor.....you won because you did nothing wrong. You were never in violation of any ordinance. Our illustrious Councilmen like Jimenez and Schwiegart who made snide comments and stupid jokes, are the ones who look stupid now. Thankfully, Judge Katz 's ruling was unbiased, and in keeping with the law. It's nice to know that good guys do win sometimes.

Councilman Joe Schweighardt said the township cited Alfieri twicw in the past two years for having chickens on his property.
"For years he just did what he wanted," Schweighardt said.

Over the past two years the many articles and posts written by Victor Alfieri did reflect what he wanted to do, and that was to abide by the law.
During the same period it also exposed our council members and how far they are willing to go to discredit a law abiding citizen. Not just Victor, but anyone that the council disagrees with.
The stench of the town council makes Victor's chickens smell like Chanel No.5.

Jessica, well said.

School Bus Monitor who was bullied in upstate has become a celebrity. The council has acted worse than any of the students on that bus. Does anyone have video of some of the many bully sessions in order that they can also be UTube ?

Justice,What side show do you want to see. Channel 77 shows reruns of the last council meeting. Might want to talk to Tim Collins who runs the cameras and tapes the meetings Call 694-1800 Ext. 3315 and ask him.

Wow! A little chicken controversy has once again energized the anti-Wayne council Internet lurkers (not all, just the usual suspects). They ought to file petitions for election so they can straighten up the present council members (do they hate all of them, or just the Republicans)? My neighbor tried and chicken & rooster thing a few years ago, and with a gentle reminder that chicken feed attracted vermin and roosters had the bad habit of unleashing their cock-a-doodle do's at various times of the day & night, he removed them Not quite the kind of farming activity that is appropriate for a 1/3 acre residential property. I suggest that all the advocates of this kind of activity have their neighbors set up shop next to them and try it out. And perhaps a wind turbine could reduce their electric bill.

John, Who do you suspect ?

John.....The bottom line here is Victor Alfieri has done nothing wrong. In accordance with the ordinance, he is within the law.,Whether you favor that or not, the Judge ruled in his favor. I find it interesting that you made no comment on the arrogance, obnoxiousness and stupidity of some of our Councilman regarding their snide comments. Do we dislike the Councilmen? Personally, no! We just want them out because of their attitude towards the public and in my opinion, their incompetence! By the way John, I'm a Republican. I don't want them out because they're Republicans. I want them out because they're incompetent and do not represent ALL the people. Only a chosen few! I suggest maybe you talk to your friends on the Council and suggest they work on a new ordinance. Oh.. and about the wind turbine, please tell your friends to stop wasting our taxpayers money on frivoulous litigation.

Latest Count,Wayne Residents-2 Wayne Council-0, Going into extra innings!!!!!

John, I find it difficult to understand your comments when any civilized person would find the behavior of Wayne council to be totally inappropriate, bigoted, prejudiced, racist and juvenile. It doesn't stop at the condescending, sarcastic tones or the texting during meetings; but continues to the total disregard of other religious persuasions that are part of Wayne citizenry, such as the physical motion of the sign of the cross. If that action had occurred during a shareholder's board meeting, this councilman would be "crucified", no pun intended. The council is their own old boys network, with the females behaving worse than the males. The sole democrat is really a republican with a different title. It is intolerable and indecent that this council continues in this manner.

Nose, I knew there was something i liked about you. Glad to read that you help people through your Union activities. It was the Unions that stopped the tyranny of the Industrialists. I belonged to 1262 and CWA in a far distant past. They helped keep the salaries and benefits fair. Have you tried to unionize the clerks at 475? Maybe the attitude would be humbled? God Bless You Nose.

Justice, Yes they are unionized.Getting NOSE raise this year,they have a reason not to be humbled. Most salaries are between 10 and 50 thousand.You have to work for 30+ years to get to the high end number if you live that long. Police and Administration get all the raises that you will not see published.NOSE alot that retired because of the politics.

Nose, I did not know that. Which local? The same as the state workers? Are they all unionized or just some? Is the administration with a different union or not at all? Are all clerical municipal workers in the state unionized? Where can I find that info? Interesting.

All this over some chickens. Citizens of Wayne are missing the big picture. NJ is nearly bankrupt, the palce is rediculous with property taxes, insurance and every other government malfeasance and 3 chickens creates this kind of hoopla? Seriously - wake up!

What about the even BIGGER picture that this town was enforcing a law that does not exist?!