The rooster may no longer rule the roost if Brantford city council bans the noisy birds from the municipality.

Coun. Richard Carpenter plans to introduce a notice of motion that would prevent the “keeping, harbouring or possession” of male chickens within city boundaries.

The motion says that keeping roosters in urban settings can lead to disturbances due to “persistent crowing at early hours.”

The motion says it’s prudent for council to ensure appropriate limits are in place for the keeping of animals, specifically for agricultural purposes, within the city.

City hall to ban single-use plastics

On the heels of a possible ban of single-use plastic straws in the city, councillors will consider doing their part to reduce waste at city hall.

Coun. Jan Vanderstelt plans to introduce a motion that would phase out at city hall single-use plastics, such as straws, cutlery and plates, and replace them with reusable dishware and cutlery.

The motion says the city currently spends about $125 a year on single use plates and cutlery.

It is recommended that janitorial serves be increased by $1,655 a year to cover the labour costs for cleaning the reusable items and the one-time cost of purchasing them.

Vanderstelt’s notice of motion says “it is important to lead by example when establishing policies to reduce waste in our community.”

It was a group of Grade 8 girls from Russell Reid School who encouraged councillors to consider a city-wide ban of plastic straws.

City staff are preparing a report about a potential ban that will come back to councillors.

Mayor’s gala to benefit emergency department

Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis wants the proceeds from the annual mayor’s gala to go toward the renovation of the emergency department at Brantford General Hospital.

Davis will be asking councillors to support a motion that would direct money raised by the charity event to the Brant Community Healthcare System.

The cramped and dated emergency department had 54,000 visits in 2018. A multi-million-dollar redevelopment, expansion and renovation is planned.

In March 2018, the provincial government announced it would cover 90 per cent of the cost, with the BCHS Foundation responsible for the rest, more than $5 million.