2019-2023 The members of the municipal council of Klaipėda district gathered for the last meeting on Thursday. The old members of the Council, who were not elected for a new term, did not shed tears, they participated in the discussions, some in a hard-working, and some in an emotional mood, made several decisions, including higher payments for victims of the fire and more expensive meals for kindergarten children.
The Council meeting was attended by 25 Council members out of 27. Klaipėda District Municipality Mayor Bronius Markauskas announced that Council member Arvydas Katkus was absent due to illness, and former Council member Rasa Petrauskienė, who this month chose the mandate of Seimas member and lost her mandate in the Council, did not participate in the meeting. There were 39 questions on the agenda, politicians listened to 7 pieces of information.
Children’s meals will be expensive
In order to help residents who lost their homes due to fire and natural disasters, thereby easing their difficult financial situation, the Council approved higher payments during the meeting. In case of damage to residential housing, a payment of up to EUR 7,850 will be allocated, and in case of damage to commercial buildings – up to EUR 1,570. Klaipėda district municipality does not leave its city partner Lymans in trouble either. Alinama, the municipality of Lyman city of war-torn Ukraine sent a request asking to send 4 cars: 2 special (garbage trucks) and 2 minibuses and 5 multipurpose trimmers. During the meeting, it was decided to allocate 70,000 euros, which will be used to buy 2 minibuses, 1 truck with a crane, 1 truck with a drop container, 5 gasoline lawnmowers, brush cutters.
Parents raising kindergarteners will have to open their wallets more widely, because the price of food, fuel, and electricity will rise, so will the cost of feeding children in pre-school and pre-school education institutions. The meal fee for children in nursery groups will increase from EUR 2.40 to EUR 2.85, and for children in kindergarten and pre-school education groups from EUR 2.80 to EUR 3.40. In a month, for 20 days of attendance, the monthly remuneration in the nursery will increase by 9 EUR, and in kindergarten groups it will increase by 12 EUR. The monthly subscription fee will not change and will remain the same – 15 EUR.
Will collect food waste
At the meeting, attention was paid to the request of VšĮ “Gargždų švara” for permission to purchase a new car. Because to ensure high-quality work, a new, electric, light car, a minivan, is needed. It will be used for inspections, transporting containers and various equipment. Council members approved this request without controversy, but the price of the minivan must not exceed 60,000 euros without VAT.
The report submitted to the Council by “Gargždų švaros” did not lack ambitious goals. One of them is to reduce the entry of recyclable and green waste into the general mixed municipal waste stream, and the report states that the facility is preparing for food waste collection. “Gargžda švara” will aim to separately collect food waste from the city of Gargžda, organize the purchase of food waste collection containers and vehicles to service these containers.
He did not spare criticism
Presenting his activity report for the past year, the district mayor B. Markauskas thanked all the members of the Council and the employees of the Municipal Administration for their cooperation and was happy that in the last 4 years, despite various problems, a number of positive changes have taken place in the Klaipėda district. However, Conservative member of the Council, Alfredas Šiaulys, was not happy at the last meeting and asked why the mayor allegedly changed his mind and approved the construction of a multi-purpose center on Darius and Girėnos street. “You were not against this center being built on the territory of the park, but when the majority changed, you ran to the other side, to the fields, and decided that it is better to build in the fields. What influenced you and why did you decide to build a multipurpose project – a thief who steals from all neighborhoods?” asked the politician. B. Markauskas replied that he did not run around the fields, because the decision is made by the majority in the Council, and asked him not to use such epithets, because the multifunctional center is necessary for all residents of the district. Viktoras Kura, member of the council and elder of the “Kuriam kartu” faction, did not hide his disappointment and turned to A. Šiaulis. “After all, the construction of this center became more expensive because of you, maybe you can answer the residents, how much exactly?” Maybe 10 million? There is no need to “steal” others here, the politician snapped. Council member, liberal Nerijus Galvanauskas, said that he could not agree with the mayor’s report. “In 2022, there was a big splash of money. First of all, the first grader’s basket, which the parents found out about a week before school, and they have already bought everything. Second, compensation to parents for the first child, which amounts to 300 euros. Will it increase fertility? After all, it is necessary to support those who are in need, not to support everyone”, said N. Galvanauskas.
The council approved the mayor’s report by a majority vote, as well as the report of the Director of Administration, Sigitas Karbauskas, although arrows of criticism flew at it.
Read about other decisions made at the aforementioned meeting in the next issues of “Banga”.
After the last meeting, Council members gathered for a traditional joint photo. The new Council will start work on April 17.
Augustė JAŠINAUSKIENĖ
Klaipėda district
municipality photo
