This article is from page 30 of the 2007-04-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 30 JPG
A GROUP of people living in a housing estate in Shannon have ac- cused their local Residents Associa- tion of failing to be democratic and has asked the town council to refuse to make grants available to it.
In a letter addressed to Shannon Town Council and signed by 21 Cro- nan residents, it 1s claimed that the Cronan Residents Association 1s not representative and does not hold public meetings.
Those who signed the letter stated that several people living in Cronan have endeavoured to join the com- mittee, but have been refused entry. They say that they have called for an AGM, on several occasions, but this
request was not granted.
“We would feel Cronan deserves a residents committee that engages with the issues in our area 1n a posi- tive manner,’ stated the letter.
“We can only assume that the com- mittee does not want other residents to have a say in their area,’ added the letter.
The letter also stated that the group has not produced financial state- ments. “It is not our aim to allege financial impropriety, but we believe that a Residents Association com- mittee should be seen to operate in an open and honest manner in all matters,’ it stated.
“We request that you refuse this committee, of the Cronan Residents Association, further funds or grants
until this committee submits a fi- nancial report to an Annual General Meeting of an open and accountable Cronan Residents Association,’ it added.
Following receipt of the letter, Shannon Town Clerk Tomas Mac Cormaic wrote to the Chairman of the Residents Association, Jim Duffy.
He has asked him to furnish the council with minutes of the AGM, showing that the officers have been democratically elected. He has also requested a financial statement which has been adopted by the members.
“It would also be helpful if the council could be informed of the method used to notify residents of the time and place of the general
meeting and if the council could be given a list of the members showing that the association is representative of the majority of residents in the Cronan estates,” said the town clerk, in the letter.
The Chairman of the Residents As- sociation Jim Duffy told