The second AGM of the Clones Erne East Partnership took place in Clones Council Town Council Offices.
Councillor Thomas O'Reilly from the Erne East side of the Partnership was elected chairman, a post which is cross-party, cross-border and cross-Council. A spokesperson said Mr O'Reilly had the experience and leadership skills required to guide the Partnership through the challenging months ahead.
"He also has a good grasp of where the Group stand financially since he formerly held the post of treasurer".
In fact, the first item on the agenda was the accounts for the "Laying the Foundations" Project on which ¤355,000 was spent up to the end of April last, out of a total budget of ¤650,00. This comprises ¤33,000 contributions form both Fermanagh District and Monaghan County Councils and the balance administered though the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The meeting was told that the current money from INTERREG 111A runs out in March next year. Annmarie Fryers told the meeting that it was absolutely essential that a hands-on driver of the project be elected as chairman to push for further funding when the current funding ends.
The new chairman, Thomas O'Reilly suggested that this was a key time for the Partnership, as distinct from the Project. The group needed to regain momentum and the meeting agreed with him that the Clones-Erne East Partnership was very well placed as a funding mechanism, since local authority members sit on its committee.
Hughie McElvaney, Fine Gael was elected to Vice-Chairman.
Members of the Partnership made a presentation to the meeting on a landmark project for Clones. It was given by Josephine Treanor of Clones Community Forum, Tom Kelly of the local GAA Club and Roger Sally of Teague &Sally Ltd., the architects who came up with the concept for the iconic Sports Project. The ¤448,000 raised locally has changed hands and the 14 acre site at Millbrook has now been purchased.
The project succeeded in being shortlisted from 126 projects down to the final twelve. Eight out of these twelve projects will get 100% funding from Peace III. If Peace III funding is secured, then the project will be completed in one phase at a total development cost of ¤7,347,062.
