Shannon.ie - Town Council Meeting Minutes July 2009

Present were Councillors, Duff, McCarthy, Brennan, McCafferty, Fleming, Mulcahy, Flynn and McMahon

In attendance Ms. Bernadette Kinsella – Town Manager, Mr. Liam O’Connor – the incoming Town Clerk and Tomás Mac Cormaic - Town Clerk

Opening the meeting the Meara Bhaile introduced to the members Liam O’Connor, who will take up the position of Shannon Town Clerk on the resignation of Tomás Mac Cormaic

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. McMahon and resolved; “that the minutes of the June monthly meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday June 2nd 2009, having been circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile.”

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved “that the minutes of the first annual meeting of the newly elected Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall at 6.30 p.m. on Monday June 15th 2009, having been circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile”

Cllr. McCafferty queried the ethics of the Chairpersons of both the Municipal Policy Committees being members of the same political party. However it was explained to her that the sharing of such posts needs the establishment of ‘groups’ and no second ‘group’ had been established. Subject to Schedule 10, paragraph 18 (2) (a) of the 2001 Local Government Act it would not have been possible at the time to form a second group. Furthermore only one person was proposed for each of the posts and was appointed unopposed

There was no report from either of the M.P.C.s as these committees are in the process of being set-up. Both will have reports for the September Meeting

The Auditor’s report on the accounts of the Shannon Town Council for the year ended December 31st 2008, which had been circulated to members, was noted

A list of all members of the Joint Policing Committee was given to each member. The date and venue for the first meeting of this committee will be fixed at the September meeting of the Town Council

Applications for a share of the community grants and nominations for the Liosta na Laochra awards will be sought in September and decisions on the disbursement of the grants will be decided in October

Proposed by Cllr. Fleming, seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy and adopted; “That the Area Engineer in consultation with the Gardai consider extending the double yellow lines opposite the Health Centre and the Department of the Environment Building and that the Gardai be asked to police these double yellow lines.”

Proposed by Cllr. Fleming, seconded by Cllr.Mulcahy and resolved; “that Shannon Town Council in consultation with Clare County Council consider an alternative site for visiting Funfairs and Circuses.”

Proposed by Cllr. McMahon, seconded by Cllr.Flynn and resolved; “that the Manager advise the Shannon Town Council what the policy of Clare County Council is regarding traffic calming measures in urban areas.”

Proposed by Cllr. McMahon, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved; “that Clare County Council advise S.T.C. as to the position of estate management programs and what issues within an estate will the management address” The Town Manager issued a booklet to each member on Estate Management Policy

Proposed by Cllr. McCafferty, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved; “that Shannon Town Manager initiate a major programme of street cleaning, grass cutting, pruning of shrubs and low hanging branches and landscaping in the Tradaree, Parks and Cluain Áirne areas and that these and other residential areas be maintained to the same standard as the approach roads which were mentioned in the recent IBAL report.”

Proposed by Cllr. Duff and seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy; “that Shannon Town Council request Clare County Council to explore the possibility of providing a green field freehold site for the Shannon Senior Citizens Club to meet the growing demand on the club’s services.” It was considered by the members that the Senior Citizens Club should initiate this request by writing directly to Corporate Services in the County Council and that the Town Council would support them

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved; “that Shannon Town Council request Clare County Council to remove the overgrown shrubs between Foyle Park and the River Bank as these are being used as a dumping ground.”

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy and resolved; “that Shannon Town Council request Clare County Council to distribute an information leaflet to the community in Shannon outlining the responsibilities involved in the ownership of dogs as quite a lot of dogs are running loose and in some cases being walked without leads and proper control. Clare has one of the highest rates in Europe for dogs being put down due to irresponsible owners failing to properly care for them.”

Proposed by Cllr. Mulcahy, seconded by Cllr. Duff and resolved; “that Standing Orders be suspended to allow time to complete the agenda.”

The following three motions were proposed and seconded and would be debated at a seminar to be held in the Autumn to discuss plans for the Council over the life of the Council among other issues

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn and seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy; “that in view of the fact that the business community in the Shannon Area contribute significantly to the rates of this county, that Shannon Town Council in partnership with Clare County Council and Shannon Athletic Club develop the All Weather Pitch area into a significant sporting facility and that this project be part of the Development Initiative for the current council

Proposed by Cllr. McCafferty and seconded by Cllr. Flynn; “(a) to ask the manager to provide a financial statement on the Community Initiative Fund for the new Council and (b) that Shannon Town Council begin a process of identifying a suitable project or projects which will benefit from the Community Initiative Fund; that this process be fully transparent and that a public consultation be part of the process”

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy and seconded by Cllr. McMahon; “that Shannon Town Council arrange a Seminar to discuss a 5 year plan for the town.”

As the Town Clerk is retiring at the end of July and as this was his final meeting with the Council the members and the Manager wished him well on his retirement and complemented him on his service to the town for more than 27 years