NORWICH – When the Norwich City Council withdrew its proposal Tuesday night that sought to fine those feeding stray cats, the crowd at the public hearing erupted in cheers.

City officials had attempted to pass the law to deal with a rampant stray cat population and ticket those feeding it. The proposal made two weeks ago received a lot of public response, hundreds replied via email, Facebook and phone calls.

“It is important to identify how we arrived at tonight's public hearing,” said Norwich Mayor Christine Carnrike. “The proposed ordinance change came about as the result of numerous complaints made to members of this council for an ongoing issue that has been referenced in discussions and meetings going back to the 1990's.”

As the standing room only crowd of more than 60 people waited for last night's hearing to begin it seemed officials had already accepted the public's protest and were prepared to amend the proposal. More than 30 people spoke to the council. Most of them recognized the city's problem but advocated for a better approach. Several of the speakers came as representatives of local animal groups, who were against the proposal.

Chenango SPCA Executive Director Annette Clark said her organization was against the proposal and offered to help. She advise the council adopt programs to “Take away their way to procreate, not their food.”

She said the SPCA had income-based programs that might help the city and encouraged officials to rethink their plans.

New York State Animal Protection Federation Executive Director Libby Post said she represented all the animal shelters in the State of New York.

“Take a step back, I know you've got this feral cat problem and I understand that, but not feeding them is not going to be the answer. If you don't feed the cats they will go after more wildlife and more birds,” she said. “Not feeding them is not the issue and it is not going to solve the issues.”

“You can't just bring them to another place unless it is miles and miles away. Otherwise if you bring them a block away or to the other side of town, they will just make there way back to their home territory. If you manage the colony, it will overtime, disappear.”

Delaware Valley Humane Society Manager Erin Insinga, based in Sidney, said she had to explain the law to her 12-year-old daughter on her way to the meeting.

“I realized- we had some numbers but really we don't need that. What we need to realize is that everyone knows that starving these animals is not the right answer. Everyone agrees the TNR (trap and release) is the only way to reduce the problem. The only way, and it will take time,” remarked Insiga, as she motioned to those behind her.

She said her mother runs All Animals Matter in Oxford, a non-profit group that helps fix stray cats. The group offered to help the city and even contacted Arrow Laundry Mat over it's local cat population.

Barbara Dockery, spoke at the meeting and admitted, “I work at Arrow Laundry, yes I do feed the cats,” she said, “I will not stop feeding the cats. I was raised if you feed a cat you own it.”

She said All Animals Matter had reached out to the business owner but they were turned away, however she said the business may now be open to the help.

“We can't believe this law is even being proposed,” she said.

Executive Director Terra Butler of Super Heroes in Ripped Jeans, an Oneonta animal shelter that operates a trap and release program, also spoke against the proposal saying the animal would only kill more local wildlife and seek our garbage. She said the cats would continue to reproduce and any food stress would likely lead to the death of kittens, not the adults.

Several other local citizens also made remarks, with a few advocating for the law.

The first speaker selected by the mayor to talk was former Mayor Joseph Biviano, who served from about 1993 to 1997. He immediately praised the council for trying to solve the problem.

“Damned if you do, damned if you don't, but you did something, that counts for something. I'm not here to condemn anybody,” he said.

He also mentioned previous issues with Arrow Laundry, but said the city should look at another solution. “It's not an easy subject with easy answers,” he said. He suggested the city ask the experts in the room.

One local resident began asking the city questions prompting the mayor to respond.

Margaret Amen asked, “First of all when you came up with a solution how many other solutions did you look at?”

Carnrike reminded her it was not a question and answer forum. She responded, “But isn't it a good question?” Carnrike responded, “It is a very good question.”

At the end of the hearing Alderman Robert Jeffrey, the law's sponsor, asked to withdraw the proposal given the public response without even requesting a vote. The move met no objection and the meeting was adjourned.