Local Papers Commentary
The Connaught Telegraph - 17th April 2002
By Neasa McGarrigle
Apr 19, 2002, 09:05

Pat King is Castlebar’s first Mayor
Members of Castlebar Town Council unanimously agreed to change the title of ‘Cathaoirleach’ of the authority to ‘Mayor’. Consequently, Mr Pat King is the town’s first Mayor and Ms Bernie King is the first Lady Mayor. The council will purchase a set of robes for the Mayor and a code of protocol will be drawn up. All organisations will then be made aware of the protocol as members of the authority feel that proper protocol is not been followed and things have become too informal.

Council is "going around in circles and getting nowhere", says Mayor King
Anger was widely expressed at a meeting of the town council last week over the delay in several different projects throughout the town. Mayor Pat King was particularly angry over the works on the Mall. The benches on the Mall were taken out last year in preparation for the enhancement scheme but no work has been carried out since. Now it seems that the work will not commence for three weeks leaving it unlikely that it will be finished for the summer.

Gardaí chiefs angry over “illegal” street markings
The Gardaí and Town Council are angry that Mayo County Council hired a firm to paint the new street markings on the Market Square before consulting them. The double yellow lines are affecting business in the area said Mr. Blackie Gavin and only three parking spaces have been put in place on the Brant Rock side of the street but it had been promised that a full line of parking spaces would be put down. Senator Paddy Burke was disappointed over the project; he commented that everything about it had to be done a second time. For example, the footpaths were redone twice because they did not facilitate disabled people.

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