MINUTES OF THE MONTHLY MEETING OF MACROOM TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, TOWN HALL, MACROOM ON TUESDAY 26th OCTOBER, 2010 AT 7.45 P.M.
PRESENT:Mayor Coughlan, Cllrs. Counihan, Cullinane-McCarthy
Foley, Lucey, McCarthy, McSweeney, Melia & O’Connell
IN ATENDANCE:Mr. John O’Neill, Town Manager
Mr. Brendan Fehily, Town Engineer
Ms. Eileen O’Connor A/Town Clerk
1.MINUTES OF THE MONTHLY MEETING HELD ON 28th SEPTEMBER, 2010
The Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on 28th September were adopted on the Proposition of Cllr. Foley and seconded by Cllr. Counihan
2.MATERS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES
aCCTV
Cllr. O’Connell raised the issue about the CCTV.Town Engineer was compiling a general specification and was waiting on a third price to be received for CCTV for the square area. The Town Engineer to make this a priority.
bFAIRFIELD COURT
Cllr. Foley highlighted his concerns at the ongoing issues in relation to
inadequate fencing on the building site and as to what the position was
with the builders. The Town Manager stated that a process to terminate the contract was being done at the moment as the builders
had gone into receivership. The Co. Architects Department has it
advertised again on Friday’s examiner and on e-tender. The Town Clerk to get onto Architects about levelling the earth and clearing up the site before Christmas.
MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENT SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2010.
The Minutes as circulated were noted.
aSTREET SWEEPER
Cllr. Counihan requested that a quotation for hire of the street sweeper be sought and received a quotation for €2,043.00..
bROAD SIGNS AND CLEANING OF ROAD SIGNS
It was agreed that some of the road signs in the Town would need
to be cleaned. The Town Clerk to write to the Town Engineer
about this matter. The Town Clerk also to ask the Town Foreman
To remove any illegal signs immediately
cSHED NEAR MACROOM E-PARK
It was agreed that the Town Clerk would look into the matter and contact the owners regarding the water running out of the pumphouse.
3.ENGINEERING ISSUES
a50K SIGN AT CODRUM
The Town Engineer undertook to have the sign re-erected.
bCROSSING AT CORK STREET
Cllr. Foley asked the Town Engineer to look at placing a pedestrian
Crossing at Cork St. to facilitate the elderly population. Town Engineer said it would mean getting a pedestrian count done to justify the crossing and the NRA would have to be involved also.
cCLEANING OF DRAINS
Cllr McCarthy asked that the drains be cleaned to prevent flooding
this winter.
dLOOSE PAVING IN FRONT OF CASTLE HOTEL AREA
Cllr. McSweeney asked about the loose slabs on the pavements in
this location. The Town Engineer said there was a fault on the way
they were put down first day and they would all need to be redone.
ePAVEMENTS IN O’CONNOR PARK
The Town Engineer stated that with the Urban Road Grant it was agreed to do the jobs over two years. The Town Clerk to write to the residents in O’Connor Park outlining that the Town Architect is currently designing a pavement layout and this will hopefully be started next year.
4.MANAGERS ORDERS
A listof Manager’s Orders made since the last meeting as circulated were noted.
5.PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Planning Applications received since the last meeting as circulated, were noted.
6UNADUITED ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2009
The Town Manager reported on the Annual Financial Statement for 2009 which had been circulated to each Member. He outlined the main features of the statement which included an overall surplus of €1,621 on the Revenue account for 2009 and also a surplus on the Capital Account. The revenue account expenditure showed over expenditure in relation to programme 3
of €70.00, programme 4 of 21,741.00 and programme 8 of €87,641.00. These over expenditures were offset by savings in other programmes. The Statement also included for transfers from Revenue Account of €78,925.00 and included a summary of outruns on all income streams.
On the proposal of Cllr. O’Connell and seconded by Cllr. McSweeney the over expenditures as outlined in the statement were approved.
7.CORRESPONDENCE
aCIVIC AMENITY SITE
The Town Clerk read out e-mail from Enda Kiernanon matters raised at the July meeting regarding the Civic Amenity site..
bTOURIST OFFICE
Letter from Aylene Kelleher from Kilnamartyra re proposal to open
Tourist Office at the castle gates, as a gift shop, housing pieces made
by local crafts people/artists during the months of September through
to April, when the Tourist Office is closed.Town Manager to investigate.
cST. COLMANSBOYSSCHOOL
It was agreed on the proposal of Cllr. Counihan and Seconded by Cllr. Foley to give€150.00 to St. Colman’s Boys School for’Who wants to be a Thousandaire to be held in the Castle Hotel on 25th November.
dMACROOM BOXING CLUB
Letter from John Casey PRO Macroom Boxing Club requesting a
Civic Reception for Michael and Christina Desmond who won All
Ireland Medals in Boxing.
It was agreed by the members to hold a Civic Reception in The Town Hall on Tuesday 19th October.
eIt was agreed on the proposal of Cllr. Foley and seconded by Cllr. McCarthy to give a contribution of €200 to Macroom Boxing Club.
fDOUGLAS HYDE CONFERENCE
Letter from Roscommon County Council was noted regarding 2010 Douglas Hyde Conference to be held in Co. Roscommon on 15th October.
gTraining Seminar for Councillors “Report of the Local Government
Efficiency Review Group” in Co. Wexford from 1st to 3rd October was noted.
hLAMA SEMINAR
LAMA Autumn Seminar to be held in Listowel, Co. Kerry on 8th and 9th October 2010.
Cllr. McCarthy and Cllr. Lucey to attend this Seminar.
iKERRY LIFE EDUCATION LTD.
Letter from Kerry Life Education Ltd. regarding Conference – ‘Getting
a Grip 2010 Building a Social Response’ was noted.
jSAOIRSE FOUNDATION
Letter from the Saoirse Foundation Castlemaine, Co. Kerry on behalf of Bee for Battens thanking for supporting their charity with a generous sum of €100.
kNATIONAL TOURISM CONFERENCE
National Tourism Conference in conjunction with Clare County Council. On the proposal of Cllr. McCarthy and seconded by
Cllr. O’Connell it was agreed that Cllrs. McSweeney and Cullinane- McCrathy would attend this Conference 25th to 27th November in Co. Clare.
lPASSAGE WEST TOWN COUNCIL
Notice of Motion from Passage West Town Council asking the Minister for Social Protection to develop a formal scheme whereby the skills of those in receipt of Job Seekers Benefit and Job Seekers Allowance can be used on a voluntary basis for the benefit of the community without reducing social welfare entitlements was adopted.
mKILLARNEY TOWN COUNCIL
Notice of Motion from Killarney Town Council to oppose the Fianna Fail submission to the Government White Paper on Local Government Reform was adopted.
nIRISH WATER SAFETY
On the Proposal of Cllr. McCarthy and Seconded by Cllr. Counihan .
it was agreed to give Irish Water Safety a contribution of €200 towards
the operation and administration of Irish Water Safety 2010.
8.ANY OTHER BUSINESS
aPAY-PARKING
Cllr. Foley expressed his concern on how quiet business is gone in the middle of the town especially in the square and that businesses were
suffering because of the pay-parking. The Town Manager stated that in the current climate we are no different to other Towns and that we cannot make changes now.Can be considered for next budget meeting.
bCHARITY COLLECTIONS
Cllr. McCarthy highlighted that some Charity Collections taking place on the streets are causing Traffic Jams in the Town. It was decided to
raise this issue at the next Traffic sub-committee meeting.
cALL IRELAND FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Cllr. Counihan congratulated the Cork Senior Football Team on their All-Ireland Football Championship Victory and also the Cork Minor
Team on their performance. This was supported by all the Councillors.
dMACROOM INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL TEAM
Cllr. Counihan wished the Macroom Intermediate Football Team the best of luck in the CountyChampionship. This was also supported
by all the Councillors.
eCIVIC RECEPTION
It was agreed to hold a Civic Receiption on Tuedsay 19th October in
The Town Hall to honour Michael and Christina Desmond (Twins from Macroom Boxing Club on winning All-Ireland Gold Medals in boxing.
fSKIP PARKED IN THE SQUARE
Cllr. McCarthy raised the issued that there was a skip parked in
The square for four to five days and had they permission to do so.
gHOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING
Cllr. Foley stated that we did not have a Housing Committee Meeting and could we arrange to have this meeting before the next Monthly Council Meeting.
hJOINT POLICING COMMITTEE
Cllr. O’Connell asked on the position on the Joint Policing Committee.
Town Clerk investigating the matter.
iELECTRICITY SUPPLY BOARD
Councillor McCarthy expressed his concern on the 5% increase in ESB
Bill Prices. There are too many people in arrears at this time and we should write to the Minister expressing our feelings on this matter.
jINCOME OUTTURNS
Town Manager outlined to the end of August improvement needed in the Rate Income.
The Mayor and the Councillors wished the Town Clerk a speedy recovery from her recent illness.
THIS CONCLUDED THE BUSINESS OF THE MEETING
MAYOR:______DATE: ______
TOWN CLERK:______DATE: ______