COUNCILLOR VENTS FRUSTRATION OVER HOTEL MEETING DELAY
The Mayor of Fermoy, Tadhg O’Donovan, has been criticised by town councillor Michael Hanley for what he sees as a delay in meeting with property developers seeking to present plans for a hotel for the town to the council.
Cllr Hanley issued a statement ‘with great reluctance’ to The Avondhu this week outlining his frustration at the perceived hold-up in meeting with the Lawton Group, who have contacted the town council with a view to presenting revised plans for a new hotel and housing for Fermoy. Cllr Hanley further contends that his attempt to arrange a meeting has yielded no results, a claim refuted by Mayor O’Donovan.
“Mayor O’Donovan was written to by the Lawton Co. on August 8 and in that letter he was invited to communicate with the other town councillors and arrange to meet with the Lawton co. and their architect to present their revised plan for the hotel and some housing,”
Cllr Hanley’s statement reads, adding that a copy of the letter was sent to all Fermoy town councillors. Cllr Hanley’s frustration grew as weeks passed without any indication that a meeting was forthcoming.
“In my utter frustration and disappointment I felt that because of the serious nature of this project and the picture in my mind of a developer and his team twiddling his thumbs whilst they await the summons from the great and good in Fermoy, I resorted to the only avenue available to councillors in this situation, which is to recourse to standing order no. 4 of the Fermoy Town Council’s standing orders whereby on foot of no less than five signatures of fellow councillors a mayor must arrange for a meeting.”
Cllr Hanley also revealed that this letter, complete with the 5 necessary signatures, was submitted on Thursday, August 21 with an instruction to advise the Mayor that an important letter awaited him at the council office.
“I am in constant dialogue with the Lawton Group,” Mayor O’Donovan replied when told of Cllr Hanley’s statement, “I spoke to them yesterday and today. We are in constant contact. I will, in due course, be calling a meeting and Cllr Hanley and all other councillors will be invited. I will call this meeting in my capacity as mayor and the press will be welcome to attend.”
However Mayor O’Donovan told The Avondhu that he never received Cllr Hanley’s petition in favour of a meeting, though conceding that the Town Hall had informed him of an important letter from Cllr Hanley.
Mayor O’Donovan claims he instructed that the letter, submitted a week ago, be forwarded to his home address with his other correspondence as usual. He says he has yet to receive this letter.
Town Clerk Ray Owens, who was on holiday last week, said that he is unaware of any letter being submitted to Fermoy Town Hall, but that normal protocol would dictate that any correspondence received by Town Hall is forwarded to the relevant councillor.
Published:
Thursday 28th August 6:44pm
