Councillors walk out of Ballina meeting

Councillors walk out of Ballina meeting
TUESDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2008
Councillors walk out of Ballina Parkside residents’ meeting


Anna-Marie Flynn

TWO town councillors dramatically walked out of a meeting between Clúid Housing Association and Ballina’s Parkside Residents’ Committee last week in a move described as ‘totally and completely unprofessional’.
In the latest twist in the proposed €11.5 million regeneration project, an update meeting between residents and Clúid personnel became heated after an initial question and answer session, during which residents queried issues raised at a Council meeting of October 15 last, Cllr Mary Kelly suggested the format was not appropriate.
During the session, the frustration of residents was relayed with one tenant going so far as to walk out of the meeting amid claims he was ‘fed up with constant promises’.
Cllr Kelly told Residents’ Chairperson Jean Brown: “You need to start looking forward and not back. This format is not going to work, with people going back on things that have been said before. It’s time to move forward and try and overcome this,” she said.
Ms Brown rejected the comments made by Cllr Kelly that residents were ‘always looking backwards’.
Cllr Frances McAndrew said she agreed ‘whole-heartedly’ with the comments of Cllr Kelly, saying a lot could be achieved if the parties looked towards future progress. Both councillors left the meeting together after speaking to the floor.
Cllr Johnnie O’Malley did not take the same line laid down by his party colleague Cllr McAndrew, and told the meeting he felt the ‘frank exchange of views’ was a necessary part of the process. “People have to let off steam. These people are representing other residents and have to vent the feelings the others have expressed. Clúid has lost credibility in this. The residents could not speak in the Council chamber and they have a right to do so here,” he said.
Speaking after the meeting, Jean Brown told The Mayo News she felt the walk-out by the two councillors was ‘totally and completely unprofessional’. “They should stand down as public representatives if they are not prepared to represent the people fairly. As part of our meeting we were well within our rights to question Clúid on matters arising from their meeting with the Council and we did so in the format we chose.”
Ms Brown also extended thanks to Cllrs Peter Clarke, Mark Winters, Padraig Moore and Johnnie O’Malley for ‘constant assistance and respect shown to us’