New HHA director wants to hear from tenants

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

COEYMANS — The town is expected to revise a proposed law prohibiting farm animals and fowl in some areas of the town.

Proposed Local Law No. 8 of 2023 would make it unlawful for farm animals or fowl to be kept within the commercial, business or industrial zones in the town.

But pleas from several residents whose homes are in the industrial zone led town officials to reconsider portions of the law. Those changes are expected to be made at the town board’s next meeting July 13 and if enacted, would remove the town’s industrial zone from the prohibition.

The law would make it unlawful to keep animals including cows, cattle, horses, ponies, donkeys, mules, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, roosters, ducks, geese and others.

Resident Emily Zinkhen lives in Selkirk but the land surrounding her home is zoned industrial for the town of Coeymans, she told the board at a public hearing June 22.

“In the early spring of 2020, as COVID restrictions and lockdowns were being put in place, our family rescued a little black sheep from slaughter,” Zinkhen said. “We raised her as if she were a puppy, with love and respect, and in turn she ate our weeds and fertilized our soil. That November, my family rescued a pig from a breeder in Tennessee. She became a member of our family quickly and helps us refresh our garden and till our soil. The next spring brought us a baby goat and another sheep, both of which were rescued from certain death at a meat market.”

The animals have become members of the family, Zinkhen said.

“Our two sheep, goat and pig are beloved pets. They keep us sane during hard times and greatly improve not only the quality of our lives, but the quality of our land,” she said. “We look forward to spending our time caring for them, especially when times get a little rougher. Fruit trees and gardens now grow where the soils were once dust, and our grass truly is greener with them here.”

The passage of Local Law No. 8 in its original form would negatively impact her family and home, which is otherwise “surrounded by industry and pollution,” Zinkhen said.

Zinkhen’s mother, Gina Al-Mahdi, broke into tears as she addressed the board at the public hearing.

“Not only did we save these animals, but these animals saved my children and my family,” she said. “We need them. They aren’t nobody. They even have Instagram (accounts), and people follow them. They harm nobody.”

Al-Mahdi said her children with special needs have greatly benefited from having the animals around. The animals have helped alleviate symptoms of depression and helped the children develop life and social skills.

“I just wanted to point out that not only did we save them, but they saved us as well,” Al-Mahdi said.

Selkirk resident Janet Kessler spoke on behalf of the family and their animals.

“These people have had these animals — they are considered pets,” Kessler said.

No other community members spoke out on behalf of keeping farm animals on properties in either the business or commercial zones, and Town Supervisor George McHugh said the town council could revise the law to omit industrial zones.

“Frankly, the complaints that we’re receiving are not from the industrial zones, they are from the commercial and business districts,” McHugh said.

Resident Barbara Tanner asked if the farm animals at the Zinkhen property would be grandfathered in in the event the law is passed in its original form.

“They would not be,” McHugh responded. “But that doesn’t mean that we’re going to keep industrial in.”

McHugh said the town council would consult with the town attorney before adopting the law, and that a revised law may be presented at the next meeting of the town council on July 13.