©: Wexford Borough Council - 2 - 5Th May, 1952
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5th May, 1952. A Statutory Meeting of the CounCi]_ was held this day at the Municipal Buildings at half-past seven o'clock p.m. The members present being:- His Worship, The Mayor, Councillor Michael Flusk (in the C la ir). Aldermen: Gaul, Byrne, Corish and Sinnott* Councillors: Howlin, Hadden, James Morris, Broaders and Kevin Morris, 'the County Manager, Borough Surveyor and Town C]e rk were also in attendance• SYMPATHY Before the business of the meeting commenced the Mayor referred to the death of the late Michael Ryan, Coblteen, a member of a distinguished Wexford family and moved that the sympathy of the Corporation be extended to his widow and children, to his sisters, Her Excellency, Mrs. Sean T. O'Kelly, Miss N. Ryan, MoC.C. and his brother,’ Dr. James Ryan, Minister for Health and Social Welfare. The motion was seconded by Councillor K. Morris, supported by a ll the members present, by the County Manager and Town Clerk and adopted in respectful silence. MINUTES On the motion of Alderman Gaul, seconded by Alderman Byrne, the minutes of the April meetings, copies of v/hich had been circulated cc the members v/ith the Agenda for the present meeting, were taken as having been read, approved and signed by the Mayor * EX-SERVICEMEN A deputation consisting of Messrs. Sullivan, Whelan and Rowe was received from the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen. The Deputation stated they were in attendance to further tho interest in the3? members and asked for more employment for the National Ex-Servicemen, particularly on Housing Schemes which would be more or less of a constant nature. After hearing the Deputation and it had withdrawn tho members of the Corporation considered the matter raised by them. Councillor Howlin pointed out that in so far as tho employment on the Housing Schemes was concerned it v/as en tirely a matter for the Housing Engineer as to who would bo employed or dismissed. Alderman Sinnott thought that tho Deputation should supply a lis t of the names of Unemployed Ex-bervicemnn and that the Housing Engineer be asked to employ as many of these men as possible. Alderman Byrne thoight that the Corporation should make special allocations to Ex-Servicemen. The Mayor agreed with the suggestion of Alderman Sinnott - that a list of names be supplied to tho Engineer and that i f suitable men were on the lis t thoy should get preference and Councillor K. Morris thought that a ll hands being equal Ex-servicemen should get p riority. Alderman Corish agrcod that something: should be done for Ex-Servicemen but pointed out that the Wexford Corporation for some years nast had dono a considerable amount to ease unemployment in tho Town. ©: Wexford Borough Council - 2 - 5th May, 1952, The Meeting then considered what, i f any, Scheme could be commenced which would give employment to Ex-Servicemen and it was pointed out that i f the sewerage Scheme were started v/ith tho aid of a State Grant Ex-Servicemen v/ould got p rio rity, and it was oventually decided, on the motion of Councillor Howlin, seconded by Alderman Byrno that the Minister for Local Government be asked to receive a Deputation consisting of The Mayor, Alderman Sinnott, Councillor K. Morris, the County Manager and Town Clerk, v/ith a view to expediting sanction to at least the John Street portion of the Tov/n Sewerage Scheme. Qrho Town Clerk was also asked to try and arrange this depu tation for a time when the Dail would be s ittin g so that tho Deputation could have the benefit of the five T,D.'s for tho County, MAKING OF - MUNICIPAL RATE The next business v/as to formally make a Municipal Rato of 34/4d, in the £. for the year ended 31st March, 1953 as agreed to on 31st March last. Councillor K. Morris moved that tlx rate be made and Councillor J* Morris seconded. Councillor Howlin, however, stated that having regard to tho increase in rents which is embodied in ths rate ho fe lt obliged to vote against it and Alderman Byrno intimated likewise. On & Poll being taken there voted for the mddng of the Rate* Councillors; K, Morris, Broaders, J. Morris, Haddon and the Mayor, (5) . Against: Alderman Sinnott, Corish, Byrne, Gaul and Councillor Hov/lin (5) , _ THE^. MAYOR THEREUPON. GAVE. HIS CASTING, VOTE IN favour of -the making of the rato and tho Book was scale d and signod by the Mayor Councillors: K. Morris, J, Morris and tho QJown Clork, FIRE BRIGADE HOUSES The next business was a motion by Alderman Sinnott that the rents of the houses occupicd by members of tho Fire Brigade )do not increased. In this connection the Town Clork stated ho had already intimated to Alderman Sinnott that in his (Tov/n Clerk’s) opinion this motion was out of ofdor a§ at the 31st March last a motion had been carried increasing the rents of certain houses including the Fire Brigade houses, The motion to rescind the resolution of tho 31st March had been considered on a couple of occasions and had been dofoatod at the last mooting. Alderman Sinnott, however, held that at tho last meeting the County Manager had stated that the rents of the Fire Brigade housos would not bo increased but tho Manager intimated that a discussion had taken place regarding the Firemens’ houses when ho had intimated that the remuneration of tho Firemen was at proscnt under consideration, and that the rents they wore paying would bo taken into consideration before a final docision on this romunoration was mado. Ho (Manager) was awaiting tho information which the Town Clerk had as’koriu . the Chief Officer of the Brigade to obtain for him-the rate of wages of a fit t e r - bUt as there v/as *. no uniform rate for a f it t e r it was un animously agreed to recommend the County Manager to accept the rate of a Gas F itter in fixin g the remuneration of the firemen. The Mayer ruled Alderman Sinnottrs motion out of order. ©: Wexford Borough Council -o~ 5th May, 1952# ACQUISITION OF CORPORATION HOUSES In accordance with Hotice given Alderman Corish moved that tne Corporation tenants be given the opportunity of acquiring their houses on the Tenant Purchase System* Alderman Byrne who had tabled a similar motion, seconded. The motion met v/ith general favour and was unanimously adopted. The Town Clerk was asked to prepare a Tenant Purchase Scheme for one of the smaller Corporation Housing Estates as a commencement and the Purchase Price to bo based in accordance with the length of tenancy, EXTENSION CF BOROUGH BOUNDARY In accordance with Notice given Alderman Corish moved that steps be taken to extend the Borough Boundary so as to include the 128 house-Scheme at Bishopswater; any other Scheme of houses which might be in contemplation outside tho Borough and generally to straighten the boundary. Councillor Howlin seconded this motion which was unanimously agreed to it being pointed out during the course of the discussion that the tenants of these houses would lose the right to vote in a Municipal Election, would be effected by different rates of Unemployment Assistance and would not be e lig ib le for work under the Relief Grants. COMMODORE BARRY MEMORIAL Councillor Dr. Hadden moved that the Corporation express an opinion favouring tho Crescent as a Site for the Commodore Barry Memorial. Councillor Kevin Morris seconded. not Councillor Howlin, however, intimated that he woulc/ like to commit their successors in Office to particularaplaco noithor did Alderman Byrne. H0wever, as it was seen that it was only an expression of opinion tho proposal of Dr. Haddon was unanimous ly agreed to and Alderman Sinnott askod tho Town Clerk to again communicate with tho Minister for External Affairs to ascertain i f a successor had yet been appointed by the United Statos Govern ment to Mr. Charles Keck for the execution of the Statute. DISTILLERY ROAD SEWER Councillor Howlin asked tho County Manager what was the position regarding the Corporation’s request fotf an Inquiry into the lay ing of tho Distillery Rcb d sewer and the cost thereof. Tho Town Clerk produced a lengthy lottor from the Department of Local Government on this matter but as the members thought it would bo too complicated to follow i f read it was decided that a copy of it should be furnished to each member together with the information asked for by the Minister therein, and a special meeting be held on the 19th instant to consider it . On the motion of Aldorman Gaul, seconded by Councillor James Morris it was unanimously agreed that the Minister for Local Government be requested to authoriso Overdraft accommodation in the sum of £7,000. pending tho raising of the necessary Loan to finance the laying of the sower. In roply to Aldorman Byrno the Borough Surveyor gavo reasons why it was necessary to close tho Distillery Road to traffic while carrying out repairs to the trench. COST OF BISHQPSWATER HOUSES In reply to Alderman Byrno the Town Clerk stated that tho ostimated cost of the Bishopswator houses was £204,800. and tho expenditure©: to-date Wexford £124,951. Borough or an average Council of £976*por house. -4'-- 5th May, 1952* Alderman Byrne asked tho County Manager i f he was satisfiod that the amount allocated for repairs to Artisans’ Dwellings could bo expended in a more practical way as heretofore so as to give moro satisfaction to the tenants and Corporation, He Manager stated he knew no ptfblic Body or Public O fficia l was satisfied that*, tho amount of monoy spent on repairs to houses showed a reasonable return for it but up to the prosent no satisfactory method had yet been evolved which would doal with the problem satisfactory to a ll concerned and he suggested that a Committee of the Corporation should bo appointed to examine applications for repairs and they might be able to advise Officials as to the noed of each applicant.