Who is in charge of the Sligo Town?

sligo | miscellaneous | news report Thursday November 13, 2008 22:48 by Ray

DECISION making in local government in Sligo town is suspended indefinitely at the moment as the fallout from last week’s walkout by staff from a borough council meeting continues, prompting the question: IS ANYONE RUNNING THE TOWN RIGHT NOW?

Last Monday 11 council officials walked out of a meeting following an allegation by Independent Socialist councillor Declan Bree. And now meetings of the council have effectively been put on hold by County Manager Hubert Kearns, who has overall responsibilty for the local authorities.

Director of Services (Mr. Breen) and ten staff, including the Town Clerk, Mr. John McNabola, left the meeting as controversy again erupted over proposals that the Borough Council borrow the sum of €1.3 million as its contribution towards the construction of a footbridge across the Garoavouge from the apartment block beside the Glasshouse Hotel to Markievicz Road, following a request from a devloper.

The County Manager issued a statement on Friday saying that the “unacceptable and bullying behaviour” and that “it would be unwise to hold a meeting of the council in the circumstances until acceptable standards of conduct are agreed”.

This decision by County Manager Hubert Kearns to effectively suspend meetings of Sligo Borough Council indefinitely has been described as “setting a dangerous precedent” by the man at the centre of the controversy, Independent Socialist councillor Declan Bree.

Cllr Bree said, “Last week we witnessed a walkout of officials from a council meeting because they disagreed with comments I made and now we have this further interference in the democratic process. “Walk-outs or hysterics by officials will not divert me from representing the interests of the ordinary people of this community.”

He said he had no apologies to make for what he said last week. “At last week’s meeting I made it clear that there was significant public concern about the fact that certain officials and councillors wanted to hand over €1.3 million of public monies to a private development company to enrich its shareholders. It’s outrageous that officials would recommend that the borough council would bail out this particular development company to the tune of €1.3 million.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1110/1....html

http://www.sligoweekender.com/news/story/?trs=mhgbidgbe...=news

http://www.sligoweekender.com/news/story/?trs=mhgbidgbo...=news

http://www.sligochampion.ie/news/walkout-protest-i-did-....html