MINUTES OF THE APRIL MONTHLY MEETING OF ATHY TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT 7.30 P.M ON WEDNESDAY THE 16th APRIL 2008 IN THE MUICIPAL OFFICES, RATHSTEWART, ATHY.
CATHAOIRLEACH; COUNCILLOR CUNNANE.
COUNCILLORS IN ATTENDANCE; COUNCILLORS
OFFICALS IN ATTENDANCE; TOMMY SKEHAN, TOWN MANAGER,
BRIAN O’GORMAN, TOWN CLERK, MARIA AHEARNE, A/SSO, PAUL
HICKEY, TOWN ENGINEER.
The Cathaoirleach welcomed the new Town Clerk, Brian O’Gorman and hoped he would have a long, happy and productive time in Athy Town Council. The Cathaoirleach also welcomed Tommy Skehan back and was glad to see he was in good health.
1. ADOPTION OF MINUTES.
Minutes of March Monthly Meeting held on
On the proposal of Cllr Wright
Seconded by Cllr O’Sullivan
And agreed.
Minutes of
On the proposal of Cllr Egan
Seconded by Cllr Breslin
And agreed
Minutes of Retail Strategy Meeting
On the proposal of Cllr Breslin
Seconded by Cllr Daly
2. MATTERS ARISING
Cllr Wright enquired why ESB were not in attendance as requested. Cllr Wright also advised the meeting that he wanted an update on the Footbridge and requested a written statement to confirm that it would be constructed.
The Town Clerk advised the members that he received a call this morning to advise him that the representative was unable to attend due to illness.
The Cathaoirleach advised the members that a contact number was left to give to all the members to assist with individual ESB queries.
Cllr Breslin said that to say that funding was applied for to upgrade the heating systems in
The Town Engineer advised that all issues would be addressed at the next committee meeting. He advised the members that he received the Safety report yesterday and would issue a recommendation to the Town Manager in regard to this report in the next week/two.
Cllr Daly requested an update on the Jetty and Town Engineer advised that the relevant training had been requested.
The Cathaoirleach informed the meeting that Mr John Lahart was to contact him and in turn the next meeting with regard to the Retail Strategy would be set as soon as possible.
3. CORRESPONDENCE
Brian O’Gorman, Town Clerk read the following correspondence
§ The
§ A request from ‘Friends of the Elderly,
§ A representative from Deputy Jack Wall seeking a contribution to assist a local group called ‘Jekyl’ with recording an EP. Cllr English said he had no objection but that this should be referred back to the Arts Committee.
§ Correspondence from Office of the Minister for Education and Science re ‘Athy Community College’ to advise the members that the recent letter had been brought to the attention of the Minister and the correspondence had been referred to the Developing Areas Section of the Department for direct reply to the Town Clerk. Cllr Daly said there was a huge element of vagueness and was disappointed with this reply. This is the 9th year of this project and he hoped there would be a better response shortly. This was supported by all the members.
§ Correspondence requesting support for Notice of Motion from Mullingar Town Council – ‘That this Town Council would call upon the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government not to disenfranchise local Mullingar town people by preventing them from cutting and saving turf on the local bogs for their own personal use’. All members supported this motion.
§ Correspondence requesting support for Notice of Motion from Clones Town Council – ‘That
We understand that trade unions have raised concern that many of these workers are retained on minimum conditions and in some instances are not receiving their full entitlements.
This Council hereby resolves that Agency employment should not be used as an unnecessary substitute for direct employment or as a mechanism for avoidance of fair pay and conditions.
Noting that legislation will come before the Oireachtas on the issue of Agency Employment, Clones Town Council believe and recommend to the Minister that the Principle of equal treatment should be included in any such legislation on this issue’. All members supported this motion.
§ Correspondence requesting support for Notice of Motion from Clones Town Council – ‘That Clones Town Council call on the Minister for Health, Mary Harney TD to appoint an ombudsman in the Department of Health so that the people of the Country can get an honest answer regarding their complaints about health matters’. All members supported this motion.
§ Correspondence from Athy Town Council Arts Sub committee requesting 2 members of Athy Town Council to make up the proposed Management Company along with 2 representatives from Kildare County Council, 1 from the Methodist Community and 5 from the Arts Committee. Cllr Lawler enquired about the need for 2 members from Kildare County Council and Cllr Daly advised that it was probably mimicking the set up of the Management of the Heritage Company. Cllr Dalton requested the commitment of the Town Manager and the Town Manager advised the members that a letter issued to Mr Shaw. A meeting is to be organised to discuss this in more detail with the Arts Sub Committee and the Town Clerk.
§ Correspondence from Robert Chanders re: Show Band Nostalgic Night in aid of Teach Emanuel Athy, who are raising much needed funds for a new bus.
On the proposal of Cllr Breslin
Seconded by Cllr Daly
€250 to issue to Robert Chanders.
§ Correspondence from Frank Taaffe enquiring when the 1798 monument would be erected. Cllr Wright said it was scandalous that this monument was not yet erected. Cllr Daly enquired what the current situation was. The Town Engineer advised that a memo was circulated outlining what was needed to proceed and advised that drawings needed to be agreed. Cllr Wright enquired if the three stone tablets in the depot would be used. The Engineer outlined that he currently had an artist’s impression that included these in the design and this needed to be converted into a design. Cllr Lawler met Brid De Rin last year and volunteered to build this monument and had met with the Town Engineer to discuss this. The Town Manager informed the meeting that Athy Town Council had purchased the tablets a number of years ago and enquired if any names were to be part of the design. Cllr Lawler replied that 1798 would be put on it. No other names would be part of the design. Cllr Daly accepted the report as given and asked for an update at the next meeting.
§ Conference on ‘Developments in the Planning Systems, North and South’ in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh on Thursday 24th April 2008.
§ Conference of the Isles Housing Conference 2008 in the Silversprings Moran Hotel,
§ Local Government Anti-Poverty Learning Network “The Implementation of Phase 2 of Rapid” in the
On the proposal of Cllr Dalton
Seconded by Cllr O’Sullivan
Cllr Cunanne to attend.
On the proposal of Cllr Dalton
Seconded by Cllr English
Cllr Daly to attend.
§ Conference on ‘The Role of Local Government in Community & Rural Development’ in the Listowel Arms Hotel on 8th &9th May 2008.
On the proposal of Cllr Lawler
Seconded by Cllr Daly
Cllr O’Sullivan to attend.
On the proposal of Cllr Lawler
Seconded by Cllr
Cllr English to attend.
§ Conference on ’Local Government & the Environment’ in the Ballyvaughan Coast Hotel, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare on
On the proposal of Cllr O’Sullivan
Seconded by Cllr Lawler
Cllr Cunanne to attend.
§ Conference on ‘How to develop literacy-friendly policies and practices across the organisation’ in the Galway Bay Hotel on
On the proposal of Cllr O’Sullivan
Seconded by Cllr Lawler
Cllr Egan to attend
§ Association of Municipal Authorities of
§ Preliminary Notice of 95th AMAI Annual Conference to be held in
§ “National Hub Town Conference” hosted by The Mayor of Cork County – Cllr Tom Sheahan in Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, Co Cork on 29th May 2008.
4. NOTICES OF MOTION
Cllr Wright
5. “That we as a Council impose a cap on all rent increases on our local authority houses where social welfare recipients and low wages income families are concerned as budget rises are meaning less when this Council takes it from them in rent increases getting from Peter to pay Paul”.
On the proposal of Cllr Wright
Seconded by Cllr Egan
All agreed
Cllr Wright advised the meeting that Kildare County Council had passed a similar motion re Social Welfare recipients and low income families. Cllr Wright requested that a letter be issued to Minister John Gormley stating that some houses were long overpaid at this stage and the tenant should have an option to purchase them out as a special rate as the most vulnerable people are being hit in our society.
Cllr Egan had nothing further to add.
Cllr Dalton reminded the Council that we had not increased the pensioners and had a minimal rent increase in this year’s budget and requested that the circular re the capping of the increases be checked and asked that a campaign commence to encourage tenant’s to purchase these units. All members spoke in support of this. Cllr Wright requested that the Town Council write to DSCFA and request why pensioners did not have the option to be included in the household budget scheme to pay their rent. Again all members supported this.
Cllr Wright
6. “That we as a Council look at the possibility in our next estimates of providing money to finance rubbish skips in housing estates when needed, as working class people have genuinely nowhere to dispose non domestic rubbish”.
On the proposal of Cllr Wright
Seconded by Cllr Lawler
All agreed
Cllr Wright informed the meeting that bins were being provided when the Local Authority had no money and now that we have the downturn of the Celtic Tiger we should review and reinstate skips. Some people have no way of getting to the Civic Amenity Centre. It is an embarrassment going on the train due to the litter on view. Dumpers should be prosecuted.
Cllr Lawler supported the motion and spoke of how he doesn’t condone any dumping. Athy has a good civic amenity centre and should have a name and shame Campaign.
Cllr Egan spoke of how Offaly County Council had skips packed high and it was dangerous and maybe a one day cleanup could be organised. Cllr O’Sullivan spoke of how domestic waste being dumped is a disgrace and requested that we write to Kildare County Council to set up an advertisement campaign for the Amenity Centre to encourage more usage. Cllr Dalton spoke in support of advertisement campaign and said we had skips before and they were being set on fire. The community have expressed an interest that they do not want skips. Recycling should be encouraged. Cllr Daly said that recycling should be made easier as dumping at the side of the road was not an easier option and that a solution had to be found. Cllr English supported the motion. The Cathaoirleach noted that the Estimates committee would take this on board in October/November.
Cllr Wright
7. “That we as a Council take immediate steps under our Derelict Site Act and authority, to either take over or demand a complete cleanup of what is known as the Anglers Rest, Leinster Street, as the filth and dirt and smell coming out of the broken windows is a slight and a blight on our town of Athy”.
On the proposal of Councillor Wright
Seconded by Cllr
All agreed
Cllr Wright informed the meeting of the smell that was coming from this building stating that there were ‘rats as big as cats in it’, together with anti-social behaviour. He blamed the environmental bodies and requested prosecution immediately.
Cllr Dalton explained that this building was put to the members to delist in order to assist and expressed disappointment that this had not taken place.
The Town Clerk informed the members that a notice had been issued today. Cllr English enquired what would happen now to which the Town Clerk informed the members that different dates were put on the notice for certain works to be completed by. Cllr Wright requested that we write to the Gardai to inform them of the Cider parties that were taken place here. The Town Manager advised the members that this issue had been discussed with the Town Clerk and thought the ‘carrot approach’ could be used and that movement is now afoot.
Cllr O’Sullivan
8. “That the Town Council could replace the lifebuoys on the River especially between Town and
On the proposal of Cllr O’Sullivan
Seconded by Cllr English
All agreed.
Cllr O’Sullivan informed the meeting that 3 lifebuoys were gone completely and one had no rope attached. This is critical time with the triathlon coming up. Cllr O’Sullivan enquired if two more lifebuoys could be set up near Pettits.
Cllr English supported the motion and condemned the people that threw the lifebuoys in the water.
All members supported the motion.
Cllr Daly
9. “That
On the proposal of Cllr Daly
Seconded by Cllr O’Sullivan
All agreed.
Cllr Daly requested that this be investigated as this is the only pump station for miles and we are now coming into the tourist season and it was good to encourage people to visit by water.
Cllr O’Sullivan supported the motion.
Cllr English advised the meeting this had previously been raised by Cliff Reid and that the County Council had some involvement.
All members supported the motion.
Cllr Daly
10. “That
On the proposal of Cllr Daly
Seconded by Cllr O’Sullivan
FOR: Cllr Cunanne/Daly/Breslin/Lawler/O’Sullivan/Egan/Wright
AGAINST: Cllr English/Dalton
To carry the amended motion
Cllr Daly informed the meeting that Cllr Wright had a motion in 2006 that had been deferred. The choice was the trees or the path at the time and the residents were now in agreement to reinstate the path. Cllr Daly informed the meeting he had received a letter from Athy Access Group to say that the road was now being used in the absence of the path. This is now an urgent issue coming into the summer season.
Cllr O’Sullivan supported the motion.
Cllr English requested if the motion could be amended to read ‘to defer until report is checked out’. This was supported by Cllr Dalton and put to a vote.
FOR: Cllr English/Dalton
AGAINST: Cllr Cunanne/O’Sullivan/Daly/Wright
ABSTAINED: Cllr Egan/Breslin/Lawler
Amendment not carried.
Cllr Wright spoke of how the path must be replaced. Cllr Lawler supported the former Town Engineer as he made a recommendation on foot of the advice available to him at that time and said he would support change if it’s put to the members now. Cllr English said he would abide by whatever the report recommended. Cllr Dalton spoke of how the committee set up has worked well and that they should be contacted when the report recommendations are in place and then be brought back to the members. The Town Manager said he wanted to read the report and would then report back to the members.
Cllr Daly suggested an amendment to the motion to read ‘…taking cognisance of the safety report’
FOR: Cllr Cunanne/Daly/Breslin/Lawler/O’Sullivan/Egan/Wright
AGAINST: Cllr English/Dalton
To carry the amended motion
Cllr English & Cllr Wright left the meeting.
Cllr Breslin
11. “That Athy Town Council investigates and provides a mechanism for dealing with the situation of non residents causing problems in Butler’s Lane and that the Council has the area cleaned up to include the removal of litter and overgrown shrubbery”
On the proposal of Cllr Breslin
Seconded by Cllr Lawler
All agreed.
Cllr Breslin spoke about the anti-social behaviour and litter in this area. A design under RAPID had been done and had not been finalised. Cllr Breslin requested for the shrubbery to be removed and the paving area to be weeded.
Cllr Lawler supported the motion and said we needed to be proactive as this area had not been cleaned up in a long time. He requested the anti-social behaviour be brought to the attention of the Gardai.
The Town Engineer said he would address this issue.
Cllr Breslin
12. “That a report be given on the reasons for the delay in the starting of a housing development at Woodstock Street, Athy and that in light of the current anti-social behaviour problems that are occurring in the area that further measures be put in place to secure the site”
On the proposal of Cllr Breslin
Seconded by Cllr Lawler
All agreed
Cllr Breslin informed the meeting that a tender had been sought, a contractor was appointed and that drink parties were taken place in Woodstock Lodge. This project should proceed now together with a definite time for commencement and for the anti-social behaviour to be eradicated.
Cllr Lawler said he was disappointed that development had not commenced and that he was aware that the contractor appointed had turned down work awaiting commencement of this project.
Cllr Dalton supported this motion. The Town Manager asked that a letter issue to the Gardai in regard to the anti-social behaviour and advised the members that the housing capital allocation for 2008 had not been received yet to know the status of this project.
Cllr Breslin
13. “Can a meeting be arranged between all relevant bodies including the Athy Area Committee to discuss plans and strategy to upgrading and protection of the Barrow Walk in the Athy Area”
On the proposal of Cllr Breslin
Seconded by Cllr Lawler
All agreed.
Cllr Dalton advised that a motion was raised last year to set up a committee.
Cllr Breslin asked that the Area Committee be involved. The Town Manager highlighted that Inland Waterways were key to this and would be available to meet up with them.
Cllr Dalton requested that a letter issue to Kildare County Council Southern Area Committee to meet with Athy Town Council Members.
Cllr Egan
14. “That
On the proposal of Cllr Egan
Seconded by Cllr Lawler
All agreed
Cllr Egan said this was a very serious matter and that it gives a bad impression.
Cllr Lawler supported this motion.
Cllr Dalton said this is a major issue and that some crime/drug abuse is taking place. The Town Manager said that there is public and private houses concerned here and that a report on the Council properties would issue.
Cllr Egan
15. “That
On the proposal of Cllr Egan
Seconded by Cllr Lawler
All agreed
Cllr Egan informed the meeting that Cllr Daly had addressed this in 2007.
On the proposal of Cllr Lawler
Seconded by Cllr
To suspend standing orders as it was
Cllr Lawler supported the motion and said it was difficult to negotiate the footpaths of Athy due to ‘dog dirt’.
Cllr Dalton highlighted that the worst routes were the
Cllr Egan
16. “Can
This motion was deferred to the May meeting.
17. CATHAOIRLEACH’S BUSINESS
The Cathaoirleach asked that the Retail Strategy progress as soon as possible.
The members were advised of the meeting with the 4 Town Councils.
An update was requested in regard to the Arts Committee.
The AMAI had a vote of sympathy for Cllr Noel Scully R.I.P.
A letter was to be sent to Tom Ryan in support of the Green Paper.
The Cathaoirleach extended his congratulations to John Joe Joyce and to Athy Town Boxing Club and yet again to Dom O’Rourke.
18. MANAGER’S BUSINESS
The Manager advised the members that a meeting would be set up to discuss the Retail Strategy and the 2008 Block Grant.
Cllr Daly requested that reinstatement of the right of way at Rathstewart and road markings at this location be part of the Block Grant.
19. REPORT FROM SUB COMMITTEES
ATHY TOWN TWINNING – No report submitted.
ARTS SUB COMMITTEE – A meeting was to be set up, together with the Management Committee re the
REMEDIAL SCHEME – A submission was being prepared for the DoE on foot of the meeting of Tuesday 15th.
RAPID – Graffiti Removal, Phase I had commenced
YOUTH CAFÉ – The Youth Café was progressing well.
CEMETERY – Cllr O’Sullivan requested if this was still in place and that a section of trees needed to be cut at the Old St Michael’s Cemetery. The Town Engineer to investigate this and the names of the committee to be reconvened.
CILL DARA AR AGHAIDH TEO – Minutes circulated.
20. PLANNING REGISTER
No comment.
21. OTHER BUSINESS
Cllr Daly asked if the photo of Cllr Scully R.I.P. had been sourced to put in the Chamber as proposed on Christmas Eve. Cllr Breslin and M Ahearne were following up on this.
Cllr O’Sullivan requested an update re the Bus Shelters in town. The Town Engineer replied that a letter had issued to CIE and that he would issue a reminder.
Cllr Lawler noted that the pole had now gone from the
The Cathaoirleach proposed a minute’s silence, seconded by Cllr Dalton for the former President Hilary, an exemplary politician and person, to sympathise with his family.
THIS CONCLUDED THE MEETING
CATHAOIRLEACH ___________________________________
DATE ___________________________________
