Call made for town manager in 1976!
AN amazing story I came across from 42 years ago - yes, 42 years ago!
A call was made - and repeated - to have the status of Drogheda’s town clerk raised to town manager in an effort to speed up the town’s progress. The call was made at a meeting of the local Chamber of Commerce.
Some members felt that Drogheda was not moving as quickly as other towns in the region and laid the blame squarely on the system of transferring town clerks after a couple of years in the town. They agreed that if the more permanent office of town manager was established the appointee could concentrate on planning Drogheda’s future needs.
The president of the Chamber, Mr R. H. Murray suggested that they write to the Minister for Local Government outlining the reasons why Drogheda should have a manager of its own.
Mrs. Helen Lochrin said the best case they could put forward was that there were no other two towns in Ireland, the same size as Drogheda and Dundalk. and in such close proximity, under one manager. Mr. Hubert Tully said the County Manager had very little time when it came to Drogheda.
These days even the town clerk role has gone. Hardly progress then...