Gort Rural District Council: Minute Books
Volumes of handwritten minutes (following pre-printed format) of proceedings of Council meetings generally held twice monthly. The minutes record attendance, details of correspondence, generally from the Local Government Board, and from the early 1920’s from the Local Government Department, and actions required thereafter, together with proceedings of Council business conducted under various legalisation relating to the administration of the district under a range of headings such as general, financial, sanitary authority and labourers’ cottages. The minutes often incorporate details of reports from various Officials, such as the County Surveyor, Medical Officers of Health, Sanitary Officers, Rent Collectors, Inspectors of Dairies and so on.
The proceedings of the Council acting as the ‘Sanitary Authority’ or from circa 1920 under the Public Health Acts, relate to health and sanitary matters, such as the prevention of disease, the care and management of burial grounds, and the provision and maintenance of sewerage systems and water supply; the latter encompassed reports from the Loughrea Waterworks Committee and the Athenry Waterworks Committee. The proceedings under the ‘Labourers Acts’ relate to the provision and maintenance of labourers’ cottages and rent collection. The quarterly minutes incorporate details of reports from the County Surveyor pertaining to the district’s roads, which included the business of applying for, reviewing and approving tenders for works.
The minutes are generally signed or initialed by the Chairman and witnessed by the Clerk.