T-L Photos/GAGE VOTA Shadyside Mayor Robert Newhart reads an ordinance that prohibits the keeping or harboring of chickens within the municipal limits of the village that was passed Monday night.

SHADYSIDE — It seems the sky is falling on residents’ ambitions to keep chickens within the village of Shadyside.

Village council passed an ordinance Monday evening that prohibits the keeping or harboring of chickens within the municipal limits of the village. However, some chickens are “grandfathered in” as residents of the community. Section 3 of ordinance number 1885 states that “any person who owns chickens as of the date of passage of this ordinance is permitted to keep those chickens until such chickens perish.”

Councilman Mike Meintel asked if residents who already have chickens would be grandfathered in, and Mayor Robert Newhart confirmed that any resident who already owns chickens within the municipal limits will be able to keep them, but they are not permitted to replace any of the chickens when they die.

Newhart added that although he isn’t exactly sure how the chickens will be monitored, anyone who violates that section of the ordinance will be charged with a minor misdemeanor.

Meintel responded that he asked just to ensure that residents understand that no chickens will be taken or killed.

Following unanimous passage of the ordinance, Councilman Robert “Bushwacker” Gorrell made a motion for council, Newhart and Solicitor Kelly Kotur to enter a closed-door session concerning litigation, and all council members voted to do so.

The executive session lasted an hour and, following the session, Gorrell made a motion to return to open session and said no action was taken behind closed doors.

Village Administrator Erica Tamburin wasn’t included in the executive session because she was absent from the council meeting. Tamburin has been excused from multiple council meetings after she expressed fear for her safety.

Earlier this month, former Shadyside Village Council member Nick Ferrelli was charged with menacing by stalking in connection with a village employee.

Although Newhart did not confirm Monday that the recent charges against Ferrelli were the reason council went into executive session, he did say that Tamburin deserves the bare minimum of feeling safe at her workplace. He added that he isn’t sure when Tamburin will resume attending council meetings, but he believes it will be sooner than later.

In December 2023, Ferrelli stepped down after serving six years on council. Following his departure from his position, he said, “I have been wrestling with my future at the village for a while. This is not how I wanted things to end, but I realize tonight that my time is over. I am proud of the things we have accomplished over the last six years. I said when we made the decision to switch from a board of public affairs to a village administrator that I thought it would make the village much more efficient. Eight months later I stand by that assertion. I stand by everything I have done and we have collectively done in my time on council.”

Ferrelli is scheduled for a hearing in Belmont County Eastern Division Court at 9 a.m. April 24.

Tamburin could not be reached for comment Monday.