THE call has gone out from councillors in the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District for their chairperson to be allowed stand in for Mayor John Moran when he is not available to host civic receptions.
At the monthly district meeting, Adare-Rathkeale Cathaoirleach Cllr Adam Teskey (FG) called for standing orders to be changed in respect to attendance at civil events or invitations relating to the local authority on a formal basis.
He was informed by councillor Bridie Collins (FF) that legislation would have to be changed to allow this to happen.
However, Cllr Stephen Keary (FG) supported Cllr Teskey’s proposal for the area Cathaoirleach to fill in for Mayor Moran when he isn’t available to attend relevant functions in the district.
“The relevant chair woman or man in the area should do the honours and wear the chain,” Cllr Keary insisted.
Director with responsibility for Adare-Rathkeale, Stephane Duclot, told Council members that he did not think the request came under standing orders.
“I think it is the Mayor’s right to pick who he wants to represent him,” he said.
Cllr Teskey was also informed that without a change of legislation his recommendation could not be considered for the Adare-Rathkeale chairperson to be automatically appointed as the first citizen’s replacement for official functions.
At last month’s full meeting of the Council, Cllr Teskey told Mayor Moran that he would speak his mind at meetings even if it meant he wouldn’t get to wear the mayoral chain at the next official function in the Adare-Rathkeale district.
