Councillors down tools in crux over management changes

A RIFT between elected members of Mayo County Council and the Council’s chief executive Peter Hynes over proposed management changes widened dramatically today (Thursday) when members of Castlebar Municipal District abandoned their monthly meeting minutes after the forum convened. 

On the proposal of Councillor Al McDonnell, seconded by Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, members decided unanimously that there will be no further meetings of the municipal district until the controversial issue of senior appointments has been resolved to their satisfaction.

Mr. Hynes proposes restructuring of the council at senior management level by appointing a municipal manager, at a lower grade than directors of services, in each of the four municipal districts (Castlebar, Ballina, Claremorris and West Mayo).

Councillors, who sent a deputation to the chief executive on the contentious issue earlier this week, are demanding that a director of services be retained in each of the four districts.

When the regular Castlebar Municipal District meeting began this afternoon, Councillor McDonnell said that since the last meeting there had been “dramatic” and “unexpected” changes regarding the status of the municipal district and there was widespread dissatisfaction among council members about this.

“The matter is still unresolved much to the dissatisfaction of our elected members and the people we represent,' Councillor McDonnell said.

He added that councillors had their own proposal on the contentious issue.

There should be no further meetings of the municipal district until the matter was resolved.

Councillor Kilcoyne seconded his colleague’s proposal with councillors and officials filing from the meeting only minutes after it started.