PALACE FIELDS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
Residents Meeting No.21. Held on 2nd February 2011.
at Ard Ri House Hotel, Milltown Road, Tuam at 8pm.

1. PRESENT. (a)

William Martin No. 91.

	Michael Goss.No.48.
Liam Halion No. 197.			
John Fleming. No.77				
Karon Kennedy. No.150.	 Stephen McDonnell  No.239.			
Marion Walsh No. 5.
Deirdre McCarthy. No 12.
M. Keaney No. 190.
Donald Smith. No. 203.

	Noelle Quinn.
Miceal Reilly
Madeline Collins. All from No.194.

				
				
Thanks to all who attended.
(b)

	Apologies from		
Ronan Kelly No 144.	 			
Declan Costello. - 	Neighbourhodd Watch Liaison Officer.			

2.DISTRIBUTION.
(a) The previous minutes were distributed to the area representatives and these in turn were delivered to their allocated areas.

Copies of minutes were also distributed to Declan Costello (Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer) and Sergeant Michael Bradly of Tuam Gardi station.

3.DATE OF NEXT MEETING.

(a) Wednesday 2nd March 2011 in the Ard Ri House Hotel at 8pm.

All are welcome to attend.  
4. ACCEPTANCE OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS MINUTES.
(a) They were accepted.
5.TREASURERS REPORT.
(a) As previous minutes.
6. MATTERS ARISING.
(a) JF Reported that he had located a service detector that would locate the disposition of water mains running below ground. The equipment is hired out by HSS at approximately 100.00 Euro per day. It may be worth considering using in dwellings where the freezing of water mains is not cured by the Stopcock Cosy.
(b) JF Confirmed that he had purchased a Stopcock Cosy and had placed it in his meter chamber. It was described as being hollow inside to allow room for the meter and was made of a special insulating material that is water proof. It was also a tight fit and that washing up liquid or equal should be used to place it in the chamber. Details of the Cosy and how and where to purchase it are in the last meetings minutes.
7. MAINTENANCE OF COMMUNAL AREAS.
      
(a) MG reported he had received a letter from Francis Mulry of Arlum Limited dated the 4th of January last,  this was passed around the meeting. The letter was generally supportive of the Residents Association however, confirmed that they would only pay 50% of the grass cutting costs for the greens and verges for this year. This will mean the Association will have to raise funds of its own to meet the remaining costs.

(b) The tree pruning has commenced with two sessions to date on the 22nd and 29th of last month we were rained off on the 15th. We will continue with this programme, as we have completed about 60 to 70% of the estate. There are only seven of us carrying out this work, we really need more help so more volunteers please! Next Saturday at 10.00 am, we intend to start in area 9 next to or facing the park.

The cuttings from the trees are being collected and stored ready for chipping. LH reported that there has been three trailer fulls to date. JF has approached a resident who has access to an industrial grade chipping machine. Once all the pruning is completed it will be chipped and distributed around the base of the trees on the estate as mulshing in the late spring. There is no waste with  materials as they will have been fully recycled within the estate.

(c) Tied in with the lottery mentioned in 10(a) below, it was discussed that the cutting of the grass areas could be carried out by certain residents on rota basis and be paid for the work. This will involve the purchase of a suitable lawn mower together with insurance, details of which were obtained by JF and shown to the committee members.

(c) Additional maintenance works could be carried out by work parties from time to time as and when required, similar to that of the tree pruning currently being carried out.

8. NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME.
(a) We have been supplied with the new Neighbourhood Watch door/window stickers, these will be distributed throughout the estate shortly. They are the type that can be stuck on the inside of the glass.

(b) MG confirmed that he had received a letter and form from Sergeant Michael Bradley in connection with the street signs for the scheme. It was discussed and agreed that two signs were required for the estate, subject to agreement from the necessary authorities. One would be placed on a new post adjacent to No.1 Palace Fields within the grass verge. The other, next to the pedestrian footway that onto the estate from the park. The form will be completed and signed and sent back to the Garda with a marked up site plan drawing as requested.

(c) It was the wish of the committee to thank both Sergeant Michael Bradly and Declan Costello of the Tuam An Garda Siochana for there help and support in the above matters.

9. JJ RATGIHAN AND GALWAY COUNTY COUNCIL.

 (a) Still awaiting reply from the ESB regarding the street lighting to the two areas. These areas were discussed, notably the dark area to          the front of the estate. MG is in correspondence with them.
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS.
(a) As indicated in 1(d) of the last minutes, the estates lottery was discussed at some length. The committee maintained that it was a good idea and that it would propose to set it  up as detailed on the attached sheet. This will include representatives of the committee calling to houses in their area to gauge peoples opinions on the subject.

(b) KK reported that a section of the boundary wall to the rear of the estate was leaning outwards towards the field quite noticably. MG mentioned he would report this to Rhatigans.

SOME USEFUL NUMBERS.

1/ ESB for street lighting replacement 1850 372 772.

2/ Palace Fields Residents Association website. hppts;//site.google.com/site/palacefieldstuam

3/ An Garda Siochana Tuam 093 70841. Neighbourhood Watch Scheme Liaison Officer - Declan Costello.

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