Council meeting cancelled but work continues
FOR THE first time in living memory, the scheduled monthly New Ross council monthly meeting did not go ahead on Wednesday.
A monthly meeting of New Ross urban, town or municipal council – depending on the title of the period – has taken place once a month, (except for August), over recent decades.
Cathaoirleach Cllr John Fleming said: ‘We have a weekly conference call to Wexford County Council getting updates and discussing any issues. We email in any issues or questions we might have and we discuss them at the conference call. It’s not ideal but it’s working very well, considering.’
Cllr Fleming said more locally in the New Ross district, he is in regular contact with district manager Mick McCormick and director of services Eamonn Hore by phone.
‘As there are only six council members, it’s easy to phone each other if there is a series issue that needs to be discussed. As you can imagine, the focus is fully on stopping the virus spreading,’
He said County Wexford is doing its part with a very low infection rate.
‘I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the frontline staff: nurses, doctors, paramedics etc and also all the staff of supermarkets, shops and all other essential businesses that are open: they are doing wonderful work and unfortunately putting themselves at risk at the same time. I must also compliment the voluntary groups which I am part of for their work in the local communities delivering goods shopping etc, and also Wexford County Council who have been hugely proactive in all of this. Remember stay safe, stay at home please,’ said Cllr Fleming.
Cllr Michael Sheehan said councillors are busy working, answering phones and assisting people with information.
He said: ‘It’s the first time in living memory where meetings are being postponed or deferred. The last crisis was the Foot and Mouth but it [the meeting] still went ahead.’