New first citizen

Swinford councillor made new first citizen

Anna-Marie Flynn

SWINFORD was smiling as third-generation politician, Cllr Joe Mellett, was elected the county’s first citizen yesterday (Monday).
Victory parties went on into the night in the east Mayo town to celebrate the election of the last Chairperson in the current term of the County Council. 
At yesterday’s (Monday’s) annual general meeting, Cllr Mellett’s proposer, party whip Cllr Paddy McGuinness referred to the occasion as ‘historic’.
“It is almost certain that the members present today will not have another chance to participate in a County Council AGM again together. With an average of over 33 per cent turn-over in the membership of every council – last term we had 42 per cent with 13 new members elected – we will not be here again to enjoy a day like today together,” he said.
In what he called a ‘unique occasion’, Cllr Joe Mellett became the first of three consecutive generations of his family to hold the prestigious chain of office. His grandfather, Joe, was elected to the Council in the early 1900s, while his father, Willie, served on the authority in the 1940s.
Cllr Mellett, whose family has been in business in Swinford since 1797, was first elected to the Council in 1999. His wife, Frances, and children Kevin, Marie and Róisín, were in attendance at Áras an Chontae yesterday morning, to see him elevated to the role.
The councillor, who was seconded by Cllr Eugene Lavin, said he was ‘honoured and privileged’ to be accepting the position as part of such an ‘auspicious occasion’.
“I will endeavor to do the very best I can for my county and, while I may have an ambitious list of goals set out for the year, I don’t think there is any reason why my agenda cannot be completely delivered within 12 months,” said the newly-elected Cathaoirleach.
Among his goals for the year are the introduction of one bilingual meeting; a blazer emblazoned with a crest to be worn by all councillors; green policies including a designated day when councillors travel to a meeting by bicycle; further development of the tourism industry and a range of road and rail projects.
The Cathaoirleach also suggested the county authority meetings commence at 11am on the grounds that people ‘work better in the morning’.
The auctioneer brought a familiar prop into the chamber when he introduced elected members to his century-old auction hammer. He warned that any mobile phone it came in contact with ‘would not survive’, advising all present to ‘switch them off’.
During the three-hour meeting, outgoing Cathaoirleach, Cllr Seamus Weir, was highly praised for his work during the year as the county’s first citizen. County Manager, Des Mahon, said Cllr Weir ‘always represented the county to the highest degree both at home and abroad’ and thanked him for his support. He wished the incoming Cathaoirleach and his family well in the coming term.