RUMOURS OF NEW PACT VEHEMENTLY DENIED
Rumours have, it appears, this week being circulating in Fermoy that a new pact among councillors is in place with decisions made without the due democratic process. The local elected representatives have, however, vehemently denied the allegations.
A concerned Fermoy resident claims that she heard from people in town over the weekend that a certain councillor was already agreed on as a chairperson of one of the sub committees to be voted on at the next ‘ in committee’ meeting.
The person that contacted The Avondhu also alleged that there is a campaign to oust the current chairperson of the sub committee in question.
“If that is the case, then there is a double standard. All these councillors knocked on our doors when campaigning and promised that there would be no pact, no gang,” she says.
Responding to the allegations of a new pact Mayor McCarthy clears the air, “Nothing has been decided and won’t be decided until next Thursday. No one has been picked for any position. There is no pact and no decision made,” the Mayor stressed.
“Every councillor is allowed to sit on any committee. Every councillor has one vote each. The only discussion I have had with the Deputy Mayor was to ensure that everything is done properly. We looked at committees in different ways. That is the only discussion that has taken place,” said the Mayor.
The majority of the councillors, who claim that they have no knowledge of an existing pact, echo the sentiment.
“No one has approached me,” says Cllr Seamus Coleman. “Some councillors have expressed an interest in being the chair of a certain committee. I will decide on Thursday on who is the best person for the job,” he concluded.
Fianna Fail councillor, Olive Corcoran, told The Avondhu “If there is a pact, I’m not part of it. The reason why I was elected is because people who were in a pact before were voted out.”
Cllr Corcoran wanted to clarify that, “if councillors discuss any issues beforehand and they are all there, it is not a pact. It’s a pact only if a minority of four or five councillors are there.”
Independent town councillor, Michael Hanley, denied the existence of any new pact.
“Change is on the way in Fermoy and the new council is moving to portray a new image of the town. The self serving behaviour is in the past and we’re moving on. There is, however, absolutely nothing wrong with like minded people with a shared vision getting together to discuss issues of common concern, “he told The Avondhu.
The rumour, though, seems to have been going around, as Fine Gael Cllr Aileen Pyne has heard it as well.
Cllr Pyne dismisses it by saying, “It is up to us to propose people at Thursday’s meeting in a democratic process.”
As for Cllr. John Murphy, who is at the heart of this controversy, he responds, “I was told by one of my constituents that I was being replaced. I don’t know what’s happening; but if that is the case I am disappointed.”
Cllr Murphy has been the chairperson of the Tidy Towns committee and he has contributed to making Fermoy a cleaner and litter free town.
“I’ve been trying to help Fermoy and I’d hate to see it go backwards. I have devised a plan that would move the town on. We need good publicity for the town, not bad publicity,” Cllr Murphy pointed out.
Published:
Thursday 29th October 7:46pm
