Shannon Town Council Meeting Minutes February 2007

Minutes of the February 2007 Monthly Meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall on Tuesday February 6th 2007 at 6.30 p.m.

Councillor Tony McMahon. Meara Bhaile, presided.
Present were Councillors, Flynn, McCarthy, Lambert, McKee, Duff, Hillery and McLoughlin.

In attendance : Mr. Gerard Dollard – Town Manager, Padraig Mac Cormaic – Shannon Area Development Officer and Tomás Mac Cormaic - Town Clerk

1/02/07 Minutes of January 2007 Meeting.

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. McCarthy and resolved;
“that the minutes of the January 2007 meeting of the Shannon Town Council held in the Shannon Town Hall at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday January 9th 2007, having been circulated, be adopted and signed by the Meara Bhaile.”

2/02/07 Correspondence.

1. An application from Circus Dreamland for the use of the County Council area at the rear of Tir na nOg Playground in early March was read and noted.
   The Town Clerk was authorised to negotiate terms on behalf of the Council with the Circus Management.
2. An application from Oifigeach Forbartha na Gaeilge, Comhairle Contae an Chláir to address the March meeting of the Shannon Town Council on “An Sceim Teanga “ was approved.
3. An invitation from Brian O’Connell, Managing Director of Westpark Shannon to the Councillors to visit Westpark in early March was approved. The Town Clerk in consultation with the Meara Bhaile would arrange a date and time for this visit.
4. A request from Shannon Chamber of Commerce for a meeting with the Town Council to discuss mutual cooperation in promoting the town was approved. It was proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Lambert and resolved;
   “that Shannon Town Council meet representatives of the Chamber of Commerce in the Town Hall at 6.00 p.m. on Tuesday March 6th prior to the March monthly meeting of the Council.”
5. A notice that visitors from Linden, Macedonia including the Mayor and some people involved in promoting development in their home town would visit Shannon during the month of February was noted.
   The Town Council will formally acknowledge this visit to Shannon.
6. Letters from The OPW and from Shannon Airport Authority relating to maintenance and inspection of the Shannon Embankments were noted. Copies of these letters to be circulated to members. Concern was expressed that the OPW Ranger now inspects the Embankments only once every two weeks when the practice in 2000 was to inspect them on a weekly basis.
7. Acknowledgement from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of a donation from the Shannon Town Council for their Christmas Fund was noted.
8. An invitation from Union County Emerald Society for representatives of the Town Council to participate in their 11th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade was noted.
   Proposed by Cllr. Lambert, seconded by Cllr. M cCarthy and resolved;
   “that the Meara Bhaile and Town Clerk attend this Parade.”

3/02/07 Financial Accounts for 2006.

It was proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved;
“that it be noted that the accounts of the Shannon Town Council for the year ended December 31st 2006 have been completed and that the over expenditure on two items be approved as this was more than compensated for by under expenditure in other areas.”

4/02/07 Reports from M.P.C.s

Cllr. Flynn said the Industrial, Tourism and Development Committee is currently working on three projects.

1. The publishing and distribution to the Shannon Community of a Newsletter. The Town Clerk would make these arrangements for publication and distribution when the Newsletter is ready.
2. The placing of Information Maps in strategic locations throughout the town. Work is ongoing on this project .
3. The marketing of the Website. Already a number of businesses in the town have taken up the offer of advertising on the Website.

5/02/07 Report from Area Council Meeting.

A written report on matters relevant to Shannon Town discussed at the January 2007 Shannon Area Council Meeting was read by the Meara Bhaile. This information is available on the Shannon Web Site.

6/02/07 25^th Anniversary.

A number of proposals were put forward to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Shannon being granted official town status. These included a Fun Day, A photographic Exhibition, An Inter Schools Debate on the merits of Local Authority Administration possibly organised by the Toastmasters and a formal dinner for members, past members, officials and past officials.

7/02/07 Bus Shelters.

The Shannon Area Development Officer presented a proposal, with the co-operation of students from L.I.T., for the erection, on a pilot basis, of two Bus Shelters in the Town. Cllr. Flynn, supported by a number of other councillors expressed disappointment that only two bus shelters are to be provided at this stage and felt that at a very minimum there should be three bus shelters located at Fearnog, Aidan Park and Town Hall.
It may not be possible for the students, because of time constraints, to complete three shelters but it was agreed, that if the time permitted, three shelters would be made. There could be some delay in erecting a bus shelter at Fearnog because of ongoing construction work in this vicinity.

8/02/07 Parking Areas in Tullyglass Court.

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved;
“that Clare County Council repair the parking area serving houses No.s 13 to 18 and 25 to 30 Tullyglass Court.”

9/02/07 Automatic Gates at Illaunmanagh Cemetery.

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. McLoughlin and resolved;
“that Shannon Town Council request Clare County Council to provide automatic gates at the entrance to Illaunmanagh Cemetery.”
The Town Manager would discuss this possibility with Water Services who have responsibility for these gates.

10/02/07 Upgrading of Secondary Black Top Tarmacadam Footpaths.

Proposed by Cllr. Flynn, seconded by Cllr. Lambert and resolved.
“that Shannon Town Council is updated on the availability of funding for the upgrading of the secondary black top tarmacadam footpaths serving public areas and the rear of housing estates in Shannon.”

11/02/07 Parking at Limerick Regional Hospital.

Proposed by Cllr. McCarthy, seconded by Cllr. McMahon and resolved;
“that the HSE be requested to provide free parking for persons having to undergo tests at Limerick Regional Hospital.”

12/02/07 Development of a strong Western Corridor.

Proposed by Cllr. Duff, seconded by Cllr. Lambert and resolved;
“that Shannon Town Council call on all Local Authorities in the west to campaign in favour of a strong western corridor from Letterkenny to Cork to counterbalance the Eastern corridor from Belfast to Rosslare. This campaign should begin by the local authorities of the West coming together to form a joint action group consisting of the Cathaoirlig, Mayors and City & County Managers of Cork City and County, Limerick City and County, Galway City and County, Kerry, Clare Mayo, Sligo and Donegal to make this happen.”

13/02/07 Water Quality in Shannon.

Proposed by Cllr. Hillery , seconded by Cllr. Flynn and resolved;
“RE: Water Quality in Shannon. With reference to the recent E.P.A. statement on quality of drinking water in Ireland (a) how often are tests carried out in Shannon Town and (b) what % of Chlorine is present in the Town’s Water Supply.”
In moving the motion Cllr. Hillery assured all that there is no danger from Chlorine.
The Town Manager assured all that the town’s water is checked as many as ten times each month and in eight to ten locations. Chlorine can be high in some areas near it’s source to ensure chlorine at the end of the pipe.
A report will be requested from Water Services in relation to water pressure in the town.

Sínithe ag : _________________________ ar an _______________
Méara Bhaile

Sínithe ag Tomás Mac Cormaic __________ ar an 12/02/07
Cléireach an Bhaile