ERIN – Town council received what could be considered a verbal lashing on June 12 during a heated delegation from a local resident.
Tom Clare loudly voiced his concerns to council regarding speeding cars outside of his home on Sideroad 17.
“You’ve put it down to 60 and they don’t want to do 60. They are annoyed, some of them are absolutely annoyed,” said Clare.
“You’ve slowed them down and some of them are really angry the way they drive and you’ve done nothing about it.”
Clare, who donned a “will do burnouts for beer” T-shirt at the meeting, went on to voice his concerns about the influx of traffic in the village, especially as new subdivisions are being built.
“And now you’re going to give us … three cars per household and you’re going to put 2,000 more homes in our village … and what’s that? 6,000 more cars?” he said with a raised voice.
Clare then asked councillors if they had “ever heard of a camera” and told them if they wanted money they could make money with a camera.
The Erin resident concluded his initial speech with a warning for council.
“Look, boys and girls, somebody is eventually going to get killed on our street and you people are our representatives and what are you doing about it?” said Clare.
Councillor Bridget Ryan, the only member of council to speak, informed Clare of an ongoing traffic study that would “take into consideration the speed as well.”
This seemed to reignite Clare, who continued his speech.
“Take into consideration,” he said with a raised voice. “How long have you been planning this thing, you must have known how many homes were going to be built there, you must know what I know … You’re way past that.”
Clark concluded his time with one final message for council.
“I know this is only a part-time gig for you people,” he said angrily.
“But for God sakes, you accepted the job, now do it.”
No other members of council spoke.
