At the council meeting, there are passions about rumors, medical facilities, and renting premises

As many as 56 agenda items and 4 pieces of information were discussed at the extraordinary meeting of the Klaipėda District Municipal Council held on February 29. 25 out of 27 Council members participated in the Council meeting.
Unfounded rumors are being spread
The first item on the agenda of the Council meeting was the reorganization of personal health care institutions, which will become the health center of the Klaipėda district municipality from June of this year. The description of reorganization conditions, health center statutes, management structure diagram, and list of positions were approved at the council meeting.
Julius Pozingis, a member of the Council and a member of the Liberal Movement faction, said at the meeting that this draft decision approves the main management documents of the future health center. “What are the planned implementation plans in the Veiviržėnai dispensary in the near future and after the establishment of the health center?” asked J. Pozingis. There are rumors that this dispensary will be closed.
Klaipėda District Municipality Mayor Bronius Markauskas noticed that he is not hearing this question for the first time, but the dispensary is not going to be closed. “The main issue is about the dispensary building, because once there was a discussion between the members of the Council, between the managers about the acquisition of the building and its demolition. Only in this case would one think about where to move the dispensary. This would be one of the main tasks, without reducing the premises, without worsening the situation, but in the next 3-4 years there are not even financial possibilities to buy out those apartments, demolish the building, clean up the territory”, informed the mayor and added that currently the main thing in Veiviržėnai is the renovation of the Cultural Center, arrangement of the square.
Vice Mayor Vytautas Butkus seconded that the Veiviržėnai dispensary is not really being closed, currently speaking with the managers of health institutions regarding the need for funds and investments. “Later, we will provide information about investments in Veiviržėnai and other dispensaries,” said V. Butkus.
On Tuesday, the municipality of Klaipėda district issued a press release, in which it once again denied the rumors about the closure or relocation of the Veivirženia dispensary. There is just good news: a new doctor is expected to start working.
There is a shortage of family doctors
Loreta Urbutė, a member of the Council and a member of the Liberal Movement faction, also asked the mayor a question about medical institutions: “Recently, I had to visit the Paupia primary health care center and I was very surprised that Mr. the doctor is no longer working. One gets the impression that the initial reform last year may have influenced the withdrawal of doctors from certain positions. How many doctors and med. staff left?’
The mayor explained that Mr. the doctor resigned for other reasons. “Of course, we have to monitor the situation because there are many elderly doctors. So their exit may be, but is it related to the reform, I don’t know? It is likely that a serious discussion will need to be had regarding the physician attraction sponsorship program. Here is the report of the Public Health Office, which emphasizes that currently there are twice as few family doctors in our municipality as there should be. But this is not related to the reform,” the mayor noted.
The director of Gargždai hospital, Neringa Tarvydienė, also answered the question raised by the Council member. She thanked the medical staff and the Paupia PSPC team, which contributes to the recruitment of family doctors and other processes. “We are discussing with all family doctors and we are trying to ensure the best and most favorable conditions for them in the new, common structure, for now the whole situation is under control. Intensive negotiations are underway and now we are waiting for a new family doctor to return from her residency,” said the director of the institution at the Council meeting.
16 Council members voted for the previously mentioned draft decision, 7 abstained.
Kalote is an expensive election
The draft decision of the Council meeting regarding the purchase of rent of premises suitable for the activities of the Kalote electoral district aroused the interest of the Council members. In the explanatory letter submitted to the Council, it is indicated that 131.87 sq.m. m premises, located in the building at the address: Naujoji g. 52, Purmalių k., from a private person for 9,000 euros for the Lithuanian presidential and European Parliament elections to be held in May and June.
“Until 2020 Seimas elections were held in Tauro St. 1-11, Kalotės k., Kretingalė sen., in premises belonging to Klaipėda district municipality, but these premises do not comply with the Chief Election Commission<…> requirements. In addition, these premises are included in the list of assets to be sold by public auction, and sale procedures are currently underway. The administration of the Klaipėda district municipality does not have other premises that meet the requirements,” the explanatory note reads.
Council member A. Balnionienė was surprised at the rent price and the work of the Municipality administration. “I was surprised by the rental price this time: 9,000 euros for 131 square meters. m, that’s 68 Eur/sq.m. m – Worthy rent of the Palace of the Lords. In Lithuania, there is a practice of renting containers, mobile homes, etc. ways in which the problem of not having premises is solved. There is an obvious lack of thought in this place, I would not like to put the word negligence of the administration, knowing clearly that there are difficulties with facilities in this area”, – the member of the Council did not spare the criticism. Sigitas Karbauskas, director of the Municipality Administration, who could not bear the reproaches, tried to fight back, reminding that the politician herself used to be the vice-mayor, who was able to solve the problem in Kalote a few years ago.
17 Council members voted for this draft decision, 8 abstained.
Funding for roads has not changed, and needs are growing
At the council meeting, the opposition also received statements regarding the approval of the priority list of objects for the reconstruction, capital repair, new construction, simple repair of roads in the Klaipėda district municipality for the year 2024-2026, in which as many as 64 priority objects are awaiting road reconstruction, capital repair or a new road. As written in the explanatory letter submitted to the Council, funds from the Road Maintenance and Development Program and the Municipal budget are required for the implementation of the decision.
Council member L. Urbutė said that it is good that the long-term list is being approved, but she regretted that the list of roads approved last year has not changed much. She commented that she is saddened by the deadlines for the implementation of the objects, they are illogical and uncontrolled.
Mayor B. Markauskas noted that there are several aspects why the deadlines are late. “There are failures. When it is bought at the lowest price, the price-quality ratio is like this, so we often have problems with contractors. The other part – we all know that we currently have very large objects that we are trying to implement as soon as possible and allocate all possible financial resources, it must be admitted that other areas suffer a little. Funding for the program does not increase from roads, as we used to receive 3 million. euros, and we continue to receive it. You understand very well what for 3 million. 5 years ago, we could do it, but not today,” emphasized the mayor.
All Council members who attended the Council meeting voted for the draft decision.
Gabriele ČIUNKAITĖ
A. VALAIČIOS associative photo. from the “Banga” archive