PALACE FIELDS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
Residents Meeting No.18. Held on 3rd November 2010.
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	Deirdre McCarthy No.12.			
Karon Kennedy. No.150.	 Stephen McDonnell  No.239.			
Ronan Kelly      No. 144.
Eileen Ryan and Michael Reilly. No. 194.

Declan Costello- Neighbourhood Watch-Liaison Officer.
	Hugh Gallagher No. 68.

				
		         (b)
	Apologies from		

 (c) It would be appreciated if an hour be set a side on Saturday the 27th November 2010, between 10 and 11 am for rubbish to be picked up from the area outside your house and green, in an effort to tidy up the estate. Please make a note of this date and time and take part.

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

      3.	DATE OF NEXT MEETING.

	(a) Wednesday 1st December 2010 in the Ard Ri House Hotel at 8pm.
	All are welcome to attend.  
4.	ACCEPTANCE OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS MINUTES.
	(a) Apoligy :  for missed apology of absence for Ronan Kelly from last minutes.
5.	TREASURERS REPORT.
	(a) As previous minutes.
6.	MATTERS ARISING.
(a) WM pointed out that advice relating to equipment to detect the depth of the water mains could be obtained from the University of Galway,s Civil Engineering Department. University still tom be contacted.
(b) Vehicals driving too quickly between speed ramps entering and leaving the estate should be reported to the Gardi by taking registration numbers. DC. confirmed that this can be done and they will be approached and talked to.
(c) The working party set up for Saturday the 9th of last month went well but requires more volunteers. Approximately 130 trees were attended to  but there are many more to do. There are about 500 trees on the estate.
7.	MAINTENANCE OF COMMUNAL AREAS.
      
      (a) JF reported that he had unexpectedly met Michael and Padraic Rhatigan earlier in the evening. He asked them about the maintenance of 	the green areas, they mentioned that the matter was under review and that a decision was to be made in the next month. There is a 	possibility that they will not be cutting the grass on the estate next year.

      (b) It was agreed that we would try and ask them for one more year, in order to organise ourselves to take over cutting the grass in 2012. This 	would either be done by appointing our own contractor having collected money, or on an organised voluntary basis. It was also suggested 	that it may be  more economic for Arlum to provide us with suitably sized lawn mower to carry out the work. MG will email and telephone 	Francis Mulry about the matter and report back to the next meeting.

8.	NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME.
      (a) As mentioned above Declan Costello our Neighbourhood watch Gardi Liaison Officer, kindly attended this meeting. A number of points 	were raised.

      (b) At this time, look out and be mindfull that oil tanks  are being broken into. Padlock your tank if possible, paticularly those properties where 	gardens back onto fields and/or in easily accessable locations. Keep an eye open and report to the Gardi if you see any tanks being 	broken into.

      (c) Neighbourhood watch stickers will be available  shortly from the Gardi. These stickers are to be mounted on the external side of the 	door/window. They should be replaced every year or so with new.

      (d) If anything incident that you see needs reporting, DC confirmed that you telephone the Tuam Gardi Station telephone number 093-24202. 	Don't necessarily wait for Declan Costello as he may not be on duty at that time. He will however, follow up inquiries made.

      (e) As mentioned before, the general idea of the NW scheme is to be aware of unusual or suspicious activity with vehicals or people. Take 	notes of numbers, colour and make of cars etc.if they have not been seen before. Then ring the Gardi at the number given.

     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.

	(b) MG reported that there has been no responce from the Taking In Charge office at Galway County Council to leters and enquiries 	made in the past 12 months.

10.	ANY OTHER BUSINESS.
  (a) JF has been in contact with UPC recently. He reported that a wayleave agreement had been secured for servicing the estate. They have been laying cables in ducts throughout the estate in the last week or so. It is understood that they will be ready in about a month  to provide television, telephone and broadband services to all houses at competitive rates. They will be calling to all houses in the near future. They have offers with PC World and other similar organisations providing generous vouchers etc if the service is taken up through them and paid by direct debit.
(b) In view of the maintanance to the grass areas mentioned above we shall need more volunteers to carry out this work. It is hoped that if we could attract about 30 people to be split into organised into working groups, we could achieve so much more. You are needed please ring MG on 085-1144220 or JF on 087-2353815. In addition, the trees on the estate will need pruning as well as the stakes removing to the more mature specimins. All damaged or dead trees should be removed as they look worse being left year after year.

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