Shannon Town Council Meeting Minutes Feb 2004

1/2/04 Minutes of January Monthly Meeting

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Lambert and resolved;
"that the minutes of the January monthly meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday January 6th 2004, having been circulated, be adopted and signed by the Méara Bhaile"

2/2/04 Correspondence

1. A letter stating that Clare County Council are providing €4,000 in their 2004 Budget for the development fund for the Shannon Playground was noted
2. A letter from E.I. Electronics enclosing a cheque for €1,191 towards the playground development fund was noted.
3. A letter from McNamara Building Contractors enclosing a cheque for €2,668 towards the playground development fund was noted.
4. A letter on behalf of the Midwest Regional Authority advising the Council that Ciarán Lynch, Director of Rural Development at Tipperary Institute and the RPG Project Manager for the Mid West Regional Authority would welcome an opportunity to make a presentation to the Council at the March meeting that will outline the background and principal of the RES and RPGs was noted. The Council welcomed this presentation.
5. An acknowledgement of the receipt of a grant to the Shannon Leisure Centre from the Council's 2003 Community Grants was noted.
6. Acknowledgements of letters to the Office of an Taoiseach, An Tánaiste, the Office of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs and An Post were noted.
7. Notification of a conference arranged by Kilkee Waterworld on Partnership and Participation to be held in Kilkee on March 25th and 26th was noted. This would be raised again at March meeting.
8. An Invitation from the Emerald Society of the State of New Jersey for the Shannon Town Council to be represented at their annual St. Patrick's Day parades in Elizabeth and Union County was noted. It was proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Lambert and resolved; "that the Méara Bhaile attend these parades representing the Council."
9. Two letters from concerned residents of Tola Park and other areas affected by the closure of a part of the old N19 Road were noted. The future of this part of the N19 would be addressed later as an item on the Clár Oibre.
10. A letter from the Residents Association of Drumgeely Hill seeking an urgent meeting with the Town Council was tread and noted. It was proposed by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved; "that the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Méara Bhaile and the secretary of the Residents Association arrange a meeting at a suitable date, time and venue".

3/2/04 Road Traffic System from Town Centre to Drumgeely

A representative group of six people who had made a presentation to the Council at the December meeting of the Council on behalf of the residents of Pinewood, Dernish Lawn, Tola Park and Tullyglass Hill and who were invited to this meeting to get an update on the proposed traffic management system for this part of the town made a further presentation to the Council. This group had been circulated by Clare County Council with two options for traffic management in this area. The group accepted the option with a new roundabout provided this roundabout was reduced in size so as to protect the green area near Tola Park. The Town Councillors accepted that the roundabout should be reduced in size and would recommend to the Road Engineer that the proposal by the residents be accepted provided it complied with safety regulations.

4/2/04 Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003

The Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 provides that Local Authorities may adopt a resolution concerning the expiry time of Exemption Orders and the District Court in considering an application for an Exemption Order must have regard for the resolution adopted by the Local Authority and also hear the recommendations of the officer in charge of An Garda Siocána on the matter. Details of the Chief Superintendents recommendations on the matter, having been circulated to the member, were accepted by the members as the framework for their resolution. The text of the resolution must be published in newspapers circulating in the Local Authority area at least four weeks before the formal adoption of the resolution so that interested parties have an opportunity to comment or suggest changes to the resolution. The formal adoption of the resolution will be put to the Council at their April monthly meeting.

5/2/04 Annual Financial Statement

The Town Manager had circulated the members with the Annual Financial Statement for 2003 in which the members were asked to approve over expenditure in the revenue account of some items which were offset by under expenditure under other budget headings and the transfer of a balance of a balance of €2,244 from the capital account to the revenue account. It was proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr, Lambert and resolved; "that the Annual Financial Statement and the Town Manager's recommendations be adopted by the Council."

6/2/04 One Stop Shop

The Manager giving an update on the provision of a One Stop Shop in Shannon said that the current tenants of the Town Hall, Rural Resource, have found alternative accommodation and are in the process of moving. This move is expected to be completed by Monday February 9th when accommodation will be available for some limited Clare County Council services in the short term. The Manager is aware that the Department of Social Welfare and the Court Services are anxious to be accommodated as part of a One Stop Shop situation. The Town Hall is not suitable to accommodate all that would be needed and the County Council are considering three other options for the long term.

7/2/04 M. P. C. Reports

1. Meetings are ongoing for the organisation of this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade .
2. The contracts have been signed for the Playground and a public meeting is called for Tuesday February 10th to make a presentation to the general public and to get their support for the raising of finance.
3. The Website will be launched this month, possibly on Thursday February 19th 2004

8/2/04 Ambulance Service for Shannon

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. McMahon and resolved; "that Shannon Town Council, in light of the Hanly Report, request details from the Mid-Western Health Board of their plans to provide Ambulance cover for Shannon."

9/2/04 Future Management of Green Areas

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved; "that a meeting be organised with Shannon Area Councillors, members of Shannon Town Council, the Town Clerk, the Development Officer for Shannon and the Town Manager to discuss how best to manage the open spaces in Shannon following the transfer of services from Shannon Development to Clare County Council".

10/2/04 Proposed by Cllr. McKee, seconded by Cllr. Duff and resolved;

"that S.T.C. allow John Alford address the Council in relation to a recycling unit he is developing." The Town Clerk, in consultation with the Méara Bhaile and Mr. Alford will arrange a mutually suitable date, time and venue for this discussion.

11/2/04 Proposed by Cllr. McKee, seconded by Cllr. Lambert and resolved;

"that S.T.C. seek a meeting with the new board of Aer Rianta to discuss with them both their plans and the Council's concerns about the future of the Airport".

12/2/04 Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. Duff and resolved;

"that Clare County Council put in place security measures to curtail the incidents of anti-social behaviour that is occurring since the opening of the pedestrian footbridge over the new N19".

A notice of motion submitted by Cllr. Flynn relating to speed limits on the old N19 was withdrawn because this matter had been dealt with at a recent Area Council meeting.


Signed: ________________________
Méara Bhaile Dated; ______________
Signed:_____________________________
Town Clerk Dated: February 6th 2004