RAYMOND – After months of hearing arguments, public comments and rewriting ordinances, the Raymond Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday night to send the controversial animal noise ordinance to a referendum vote at the annual town meeting in June.

“My vote would be that even though I don’t agree or want this ordinance,” said Selectman Lonnie Taylor, “there may be other people in town that need it.”

Selectman Samuel Gifford agreed.

“Like Lonnie, I think I would send it to the town meeting. Let the town vote on it,” he said.

The new ordinance, which would replace the barking dog ordinance, started as a result of disagreeing neighbors on Ledge Hill Road. Last summer, Julie Sutherland brought 25 rooster chicks home to live on her farm, much to the chagrin of neighbors Wayne and Joanne Gelston.

“If there had been one or two roosters, we wouldn’t even be here,” Wayne Gelston said Tuesday evening. “I am not asking for anything special. I just want to put common sense into this argument. We are not against animals, we love animals, but listening to 20 roosters crowing all the time is not peaceful.”

Sutherland told the board a new ordinance would violate her rights as a homeowner.

“It’s our legal right and our civil right,” said Sutherland to the board before its vote. “To pass an ordinance and put it before the whole town is ridiculous.”

The ordinance would expand on the dog ordinance adopted in 1984 by banning all animal noises that last 10 minutes or longer and episodes of intermittent animal noise lasting 30 minutes or longer. The ordinance would not apply to farm animals kept on a property in connection with commercial production of agricultural products.

In Sutherland’s case, the rescued roosters are not used for agricultural production.

The board, seeming uncomfortable with settling a dispute among neighbors on their own, voted 3-2 to send it to town vote on June 12.

“The problem is, there is a problem that hasn’t been resolved,” said Board Chairman Joseph Bruno. “I’m willing to send it to the voters and do whatever the town tells me.”

Michael Reynolds, who with Charlie Leavitt voted against sending it to the voters, did not agree.

“I’m kind of backpedaling now,” said Reynolds. “An ordinance that would affect the whole town when it really only affects two people? If it goes to the ballot box, I don’t think I’ll vote for it.”

Gelston left the meeting hoping for a resolution and some peace in June.

“I’m happy they sent it to the town,” said Gelston. “We don’t want this to happen to anyone else in town. For 20 years you are living a quiet, peaceful life, and then a woman moves in next door with 25 roosters. It can happen to anyone. I’m just hoping it passes.”