Shannon.ie - Town Council Meeting Minutes September 2009

were Councillors; Brennan, Duff, Fleming, Flynn, McCafferty, McCarthy, McMahon & Mulcahy.Present

were; Bernadette Kinsella – Town Manager & Liam O’Connor – Town Clerk.In attendance

Opening the meeting the Meara Bhaile, proposed a vote of sympathy to Cllr. McMahon on the death of his sister. This was seconded by Cllr. McCarthy, and the meeting was adjourned for 10 minutes. On the resumption of the meeting Cllr. McMahon thanked the members for their expressions of sympathy

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy and resolved; “That the minutes of the July Monthly Meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday July 7th, 2009, having being circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile”

Cllr. McCafferty queried the procedure by which the chairpersons of the Municipal Policy Committee’s were chosen. After some discussion it was agreed that Cllr. McCafferty would forward the question(s) she wished to have answered to the Town Clerk and that legal opinion would be sought

Double Yellow Lines in the vicinity of the Health Centre The Road’s Engineer is in favour of extending the double yellow lines in front of the Health Centre and the Vehicle Registration Office in order to improve visibility from the entrances / exits of the service station and the Vehicle Registration Office. He will discuss this matter with the Gardai and if they are in agreement by-laws shall be drawn up to prohibit parking in front of the aforementioned buildings through the use of double yellow lines. Shannon Area Office Clare County Council - Overgrown Shrubs between Foyle Park & the River Bank Arrangements shall be made to remove the overgrown shrubs between Foyle Park and the riverbank to create an open space, which should help deter illegal dumping. Shannon Area Office Clare County Council - Green Field Site for Senior Citizens Club I am available to meet with the Senior Citizens Club so as to ascertain exactly what their requirements are. The Council will then be in a position to see what can be done to meet their needs. Michael McNamara Senior Executive Officer Corporate Services Clare County Council The Town Clerk informed the meeting that Clare County Council had indicated that the dog warden would be requested to target Shannon following the Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Flynn at the July Monthly Meeting. In response Cllr. Flynn requested that a leaflet would be distributed to all households in Shannon outlining the responsibilities of dog ownership, as requested in the notice of motion

The statement from the AMAI concerning the report of An Bord Snip Nua relating to local government, having being circulated, was noted. The elected members expressed disappointment at the proposals outlined in the report

The following notice of motion passed by Tuam Town Council, was supported by the elected members; “Tuam Town Council proposes that the recommendations to abolish Town Councils, contained in the McCarthy Report be withdrawn”

The following notice of motion passed by Mullingar Town Council was supported by the elected members; “That the council calls on Eamon Ryan, T.D., Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, to amend the Home Energy Saving Scheme to include provision for the replacement of aluminium/teak windows and doors which are not energy efficient in private dwellings”

A letter from Brian Kenny, Planning System & Spatial Policy Section of the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government regarding a notice of motion passed by Shannon Town Council was noted

A letter from St. Senans RFC regarding a planning application made by Meteor for a communications mast was noted. Correspondence items (g) and (h) along with item 13 on the agenda were then considered. Letter from Mairead Heffernan regarding the planned closing off of the pathways to the river walk at the area behind Cluain Airne. Letter from the Concerned Residents of Cluain Airne regarding the Affordable Housing Scheme at Cluain Airne

“That Shannon Town Council: consider the measures used to date in relation to the temporary extinguishment of the public right of way between Cluain Airne and Illaunagowan Point so as to determine whether due process has been adhered to seeks a guarantee from the manager that this public right of way at Cluain Airne is reinstated in full following this expiration of the temporary extinguishment period” The elected members expressed disappointment at the way the closing of the pathway at Cluain Airne had been handled by Clare County Council and queried the procedure used by the council. In response the Town Manager informed the meeting that the pathway at Cluain Airne was not a registered Right of Way and therefore the council were not obliged to follow the procedures outlined in Section 73 of the 1993 Roads Act. After some discussion it was agreed that a map would be put on public display so residents would know what was happening. Cllr. Mulcahy wished to state that he reserved the right to take legal advice regarding the letter received from Mairead Heffernan

The report from the July Area Council Meeting, having being circulated, was noted

Cllr. Brennan indicated that the membership of the Industrial, Tourism and Development M.P.C. has yet to be finalised. The elected members requested that the issue of signage would be looked at by the area engineer. Cllr. Fleming indicated that the first meeting of the Environment and Community Affairs M.P.C. was scheduled for Tuesday September 15th and that he would have a report for the October Monthly Meeting

It was agreed that the seminar to discuss a 5 year plan for the town would be held at 3.00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30th ,2009 and that the Town Clerk would forward minutes from previous seminars to the newly elected members. Any agenda items for the seminar are to be forwarded to the Town Clerk

It was agreed that the civic reception for Thomás MacCormaic would be held on October 14th, 2009 in Wolfe Tones Clubhouse

Proposed by Cllr. Fleming, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved; “That the money received for the sale of land for the crematorium to be ring fenced fir future community projects in Shannon”

Proposed by Cllr. Fleming, seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy and resolved: “I am asking that Clare County Council clarify the status of Ros Min and Gleann an Oir housing estates, if they have been taken in charge by Clare County Council and if so a traffic calming measure to be put in place in Ros Min as its very dangerous for kids and adults living there with drivers using this estate as a roundabout” The Town Clerk confirmed that the two estates were taken in charge and that he would refer the issue of the traffic calming measures to the area engineer

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved; “That Clare County Council provide an explanation for the delay in replanting the Town Centre roundabout” The Town Clerk informed the meeting that the environment section of Clare County Council had indicated that the roundabout would be replanted in October

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. McMahon and resolved; “That an inventory of public lighting be undertaken, serious faults identified and a schedule of works including a time frame for the repair of faulty or out of service lights be put in place as a priority”

Proposed by Cllr. McMahon, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved; “That Clare County Council undertake to upgrade the river walks including carrying out all the necessary repairs to paths and access paths and trimming overgrown bushes and ensure that any interruption to access be communicated in advance to the public”

Before the motion was debated Cllr. McCarthy informed the meeting that as she is a rate payer she could not debate the motion. Proposed by Cllr. McCafferty, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved; “In view of the present very difficult trading circumstances, that Shannon Town Council calls on Clare County Council to reduce its demands for commercial rates by at least 25% with immediate effect for small businesses in the retail and service sectors”

Proposed by Cllr. Mulcahy, seconded by Cllr. Duff and resolved; “That this council suspends standing orders to finish the Agenda”

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. McMahon and resolved; “That Shannon Town Council request Clare County Council to remedy the flooding problem on Drumgeely Road Footpath, across from the Bus Stop, this flooding on the path is causing great hardship to older people and especially those with disability vehicles” The Town Clerk informed the meeting that the area engineer has indicated that the footpath at Drumgeely Road is on the current schedule of works and works will be commencing shortly

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. Mulcahy and resolved; “That Shannon Town Council request Clare County Council to cut back the shrubbery at Tir Na Nόg Playground in Shannon, the cover provided by shrubs has led to some concerns of childcare safety” The Town Clerk informed the meeting that the area engineer has indicated that the shrubbery at the Tir na Nόg Playgorund would be pruned back in October. In response to a query raised Cllr. McCarthy informed the meeting that the playground was supervised from the leisure centre and the cctv cameras were being blocked by the shrubbery at present

Proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved; “That Shannon Town Council calls on the Government to support the Family Resource Centre Programme and in particular, the Shannon, Ennistymon, illaloe/Ballina and Kilrush Family Resource Centres based in County Clare. The Shannon Town Council acknowledges the potential negative impact of the McCarthy Report recommendation in relation to reducing or closing the Family Resource Centre Programme”

Proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved; “That Shannon Town Council calls on the Government to remove the threat to Clare Accessible Transport (C.A.T.) which is under threat if the recommendations of An Bord Snip Nua to axe the rural transport programme are accepted” Signed : ___________________ Dated : ______________ Meara Bhaile Signed : ___________________ Dated : ______________