Ayer Board of Health approves two new backyard poultry permits

Board of Health · Meeting of August 10, 2026

Ayer Board of Health approves two new chicken permits and renews five more amid ongoing pest complaints. The three-member board, chaired by Pamela L. Papineau, unanimously granted permits for 10 chickens at 6 Fletcher Street and 20 chickens and eight ducks at 51 Groton School Road, then renewed five existing permits including one property that swapped goats for chickens.

Members tracked an unresolved odor complaint on Willard Street and a rat problem on Rogers Street tied to nearby construction, both monitored by District Sanitarian Bridgette Pontbriand of Nashoba Associated Boards of Health. Affordable Housing Committee Chair Janet Provodakis previewed a September 29 forum, explaining that Ayer's inclusionary zoning requires "one of them" to be affordable "if you build five units or more." The board also approved minutes from two prior meetings, with one member abstaining from the June 8 vote after noting, "I wasn't here."

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,570 words

Source: the Board of Health meeting of August 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.