Directly Elected Mayor

c.p.w.g.w

So how did we all vote on this topic

chicorytip

c.p.w.g.w wrote:

So how did we all vote on this topic

NO.

topcat72

definite yes

jonski

Yes

johnnyryan89

Voted yes

banie01

Voted yes.
Directly elected mayor is a lot more accountable than an appointed city/county manager.

Cookiemunster

Voted yes.

mgbgt1978

banie01 wrote: »

Voted yes.
Directly elected mayor is a lot more accountable than an appointed city/county manager.

We will still have a City/County Manager as it's a Council Staff Position.
The only difference with a directly elected mayor is that he/she will be elected by the Public rather than elected by the local Councillors. I can't see that making them any more accountable in fairness.

c.p.w.g.w

Some of the costs associated with a directly elected mayor seem fairly high... although it's not far off the Bobby Byrne catering bill

Hande hoche!

Went with a yes.

banie01

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

We will still have a City/County Manager as it's a Council Staff Position.
The only difference with a directly elected mayor is that he/she will be elected by the Public rather than elected by the local Councillors. I can't see that making them any more accountable in fairness.

They can shape policy and local development plans over a multi year agenda rather than the current model of basically being chairmen of cc meetings and 1st amongst equals.
It to my mind at least gives a focus for "executive" authority. Yes the council still has sway, but it gives an accountable and electable chairman.

Mc Love

Hell yeah

mgbgt1978

banie01 wrote: »

They can shape policy and local development plans over a multi year agenda rather than the current model of basically being chairmen of cc meetings and 1st amongst equals.
It to my mind at least gives a focus for "executive" authority. Yes the council still has sway, but it gives an accountable and electable chairman.

Yes, it's an electable chairman.....assuming the plebiscite vote gets a 'yes'. But I can't see how this makes the Mayor any more accountable. The Mayoralty changed regularly anyway (regardless of how well they performed). Unless a publicly elected Mayor can literally keep the vast majority of Limerick voters very happy they will be voted out at every election. I honestly don't believe they will have any more influence than the Current Mayor.

TBH, it just seems like we are being encouraged to follow the Dublin/New York, etc System just to make us feel like we live in a 'Big City'.
There is also the fact that any elected Mayor will possibly exude a sense of self-importance because his/her people elected them, rather than the current system.

As already mentioned this change will end up costing you and me, and when your Property tax increases another bit to help fund this extra regular election I really hope you feel you are getting value for your money.


But let's wait and see how the voting goes. I know it will probably get the nod BTW .

maryk123

No

iguana

Were there any exit polls done on this? I can’t find any.

Cookiemunster

Just saw on the Leader website that the plebiscite votes won't be counted until Monday. The referendum and then the local elections will be counted first.

iguana wrote: »

We’re there any exit polls done on this? I can’t find any.

I haven't seen anything, bu we should have tallies by lunch time tomorrow.

kilburn

Voted yes

munstergirl

Voted No.

stefanovich

kilburn wrote: »

Voted yes

munstergirl wrote: »

Voted No.

To both of you. Why?

kilburn

For me I feel the city manager has too much power and is not answerable to anyone.

A directly elected Mayor will have most of the powers and can be booted out if they are not delivering.

Although I do believe the salary is too high

bigpink

The directly elected Mayor will get a big fat pension

chicorytip

kilburn wrote:

A directly elected Mayor will have most of the powers and can be booted out if they are not delivering.

kilburn wrote:

Although I do believe the salary is too high

On the contrary, I think the salary is far too low and could be a stumbling block in attracting a high calibre of candidate. If that is the case all that would be needed is for some wealthy, successful individual with strong Limerick connections, who possesses initiative, drive and good ideas that would benefit the city and who is willing to put themselves before the electorate. Good luck with that, as they say.

kilburn

150k a year for a mayor is way too much

Is that the correct figure I have I could be wrong?

stefanovich

kilburn wrote: »

Voted yes

munstergirl wrote: »

Voted No.

kilburn wrote: »

150k a year for a mayor is way too much

Is that the correct figure I have I could be wrong?

You'd make a lot more money with a small business.

Jimbob1977

RTE were suggesting that the Directly Elected Mayor would fail in all three cities.

c.p.w.g.w

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

RTE were suggesting that the Directly Elected Mayor would fail in all three cities.

I feel the lack of concrete information is what cost them. Hearing salary figures from 120k-180k pa. Along with two advisors on big enough salaries too.

Silentcorner

I would prefer proper local government reform.

An elected mayor on his own would struggle to cope with the culture that exists in Local Authority, in terms of achieving stated objectives, we all know our issues are much deeper than superficial.

We should be electing a mayor, who appoints the local state solicitor (do not underestimate how important this position is), has huge influence in policing issues, should also be allocated the entire tourism/festival/culture spend, planning, plus the ability to fund large scale projects, ie, cycling infrastructure.

I am not sure, one mayor on his/her own would have any ability to deliver despite best intentions.

chicorytip

kilburn wrote:

150k a year for a mayor is way too much

kilburn wrote:

Is that the correct figure I have I could be wrong?

I think that's the correct figure. It would be a good salary for the boss of a medium sized manufacturing company or an experienced chartered accountant or solicitor but for the Chief Executive of an entire county with all the responsibility that would entail it seems low. People who would otherwise be well capable and qualified would earn far more in the private sector. I voted no in the plebicite because I disapprove of the idea of having an electoral contest for such a position although I would welcome the appointment of an executive director by the government and the redundancy of county councillors.

um7y1h83ge06nx

I voted no. In any business a strong case needs to be made in order to create a position that pays almost 130k. This I feel wasn't done, people mainly seemed to hinge on a "keeping up with the Joneses" approach, that is Limerick would be left behind if we didn't vote yes.

People underestimate the role of senior county council employees and organisations like the IDA have in shaping Limerick's future. Imo voting yes would have just created a lucrative junket for political party faithfuls and wannabe celebs like Richard Lynch and Celia Holman Lee.

And don't get me started on the debacle that Limerick has had 2 mayors up to now...

kilburn

And yet the guy who had the mayoral chain stolen from his car romps home in the election

johnnyryan89

Jaxson Fit Priest wrote: »

I voted no. In any business a strong case needs to be made in order to create a position that pays almost 130k. This I feel wasn't done, people mainly seemed to hinge on a "keeping up with the Joneses" approach, that is Limerick would be left behind if we didn't vote yes.

People underestimate the role of senior county council employees and organisations like the IDA have in shaping Limerick's future. Imo voting yes would have just created a lucrative junket for political party faithfuls and wannabe celebs like Richard Lynch and Celia Holman Lee.

And don't get me started on the debacle that Limerick has had 2 mayors up to now...

Will we still have two mayor's who get selected because it's their turn and paid 50k each rather than one elected mayor whose paid 130k?

kilburn wrote: »

And yet the guy who had the mayoral chain stolen from his car romps home in the election

Well that's his version of events and it's quite the story he came up with too.

kilburn

johnnyryan89 wrote:

Will we still have two mayor's who get selected because it's their turn and paid 50k each rather than one elected mayor whose paid 130k?

Did they not just abolish the city mayoral position that had 800 years of history and many deaths/murders of serving city mayors ?

Cookiemunster

Counting is now underway for this. The result should be known this afternoon, but word is that it will fail to pass.

Cookiemunster

https://twitter.com/LimerickCouncil/status/1132976922638639105

Nothing confirmed yet, but there looks to be more piles on the Yes side than the No side. 38 v 35.

https://twitter.com/raleighreports/status/1132977778297638912

jonski

Confirmed now , Yes vote has the majority .

Cookiemunster

And it's official. Limerick narrowly votes for a directly elected mayor. Yes 52.4% No 47.6%

https://twitter.com/LimerickCouncil/status/1132987234448232448

keane2097

Turned out to be a great weekend.

Cookiemunster

The numbers.

https://twitter.com/LimerickCouncil/status/1132989926675492865

dave 27

Where does this leave Limerick now that we are the only ones to have voted this in?

I wonder will there be a proper synopsis of what will happen and when.

Cookiemunster

dave 27 wrote: »

Where does this leave Limerick now that we are the only ones to have voted this in?

I wonder will there be a proper synopsis of what will happen and when.

This was in the Journal

It was announced before Friday’s plebiscites that although the votes aren’t binding, if the proposal was accepted by a majority of voters in a council area, the Minister for Housing would submit a report to the Oireachtas with proposals for the mayoral elections.

So I assume the minister now submits these proposals and we get an election in 2021.

It's also worth noting that even though Cork and Waterford rejected the proposals, the government can still press ahead with a mayor for all three or even scrap the project completely instead of going with Limerick on it's own.

TheDiceMan2020

Watch Limerick get shafted here...

Cookiemunster

TheDiceMan2020 wrote: »

Watch Limerick get shafted here...

https://twitter.com/LeoVaradkar/status/1133034465159262209?s=19

TheDiceMan2020

Cookiemunster wrote: »

https://twitter.com/LeoVaradkar/status/1133034465159262209?s=19

I'll believe it when it happens.

c.p.w.g.w

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

Will we still have two mayor's who get selected because it's their turn and paid 50k each rather than one elected mayor whose paid 130k?



Well that's his version of events and it's quite the story he came up with too.

He does have a family member who is a rough sort. Known to the authorities.

phog

Is there a breakdown of the vote, what areas voted for or against it.

My feeling from discussions with family and work colleagues is that county Limerick see this role as a bad idea for the county as the city will get the main focus.

I think the government did a piss poor job in trying to convince the electorate to vote for it

stefanovich

phog wrote: »

Is there a breakdown of the vote, what areas voted for or against it.

My feeling from discussions with family and work colleagues is that county Limerick see this role as a bad idea for the county as the city will get the main focus.

I think the government did a piss poor job in trying to convince the electorate to vote for it

What baffles me is why people voted against it and in such large numbers. It's as if they don't trust themselves with the responsibility.

um7y1h83ge06nx

I voted against it. My issue is that I don't think the calibre of candidates will be good enough for a €130k position that in a private company would be at senior leadership level.

We'll get political parties nominating one of their councillors and maybe some Limerick "celebs" with inflated egos. I doubt we'll get heavy hitters from the business world.

I do know of people in Limerick that have the skills and experience and would really drive the council on but don't think they would put themselves forward and they don't have the brand recognition among the people of Limerick to probably be successful in getting elected.

stefanovich

Jaxson Fit Priest wrote: »

I voted against it. My issue is that I don't think the calibre of candidates will be good enough for a €130k position that in a private company would be at senior leadership level.

We'll get political parties nominating one of their councillors and maybe some Limerick "celebs" with inflated egos. I doubt we'll get heavy hitters from the business world.

I do know of people in Limerick that have the skills and experience and would really drive the council on but don't think they would put themselves forward and they don't have the brand recognition among the people of Limerick to probably be successful in getting elected.

If anything I think that 130K is not enough. Perhaps you don't think there is someone of the right calibre that would run but the yes vote does allow that circumstance to occur. At least there is accountability and more direct democracy which I can only think is a good thing.

osarusan

Are we going to get the same local yokels running for this, or is it enough to tempt people from outside the city/county/region to run for mayor?

chicorytip

osarusan wrote:

Are we going to get the same local yokels running for this, or is it enough to tempt people from outside the city/county/region to run for mayor?

Richard Lynch, Celia Holman Lee and Paul O'Connell. The horror, the horror...!!

Granadino

Jaxson Fit Priest wrote: »

I voted against it. My issue is that I don't think the calibre of candidates will be good enough for a €130k position that in a private company would be at senior leadership level.

This is shocking, and an absolute joke. No wonder the country is f*cked. That much for overseeing a small city/large town???