Velaš elected vice-president of the Municipality of Herceg Novi

In the continuation of the ninth regular session of the Herceg Novi Municipal Assembly, the current Acting Secretary for Urban Planning and Construction Inspection, Vladislav Velaš, was appointed Vice President of the Municipality, RTHN reports.

With gratitude for the trust shown, Velaš recalled his continuity in the work of the local government since 2019, especially through his position as Secretary for Urban Planning. During that period, as he said, the focus was on solving key infrastructure problems, such as the construction of a public garage in front of the Municipality building and the implementation of large commercial facilities, such as the Voli, HDL and Cungu shopping centers.

"We adopted decisions related to road, water supply and sewage infrastructure, and we are talking about kilometers of realized investments. The promenade in Igalo was reconstructed, and Njegoševa Street on Savina. The main projects for the sewage of the promenade in Ljutice were revised. We worked on the implementation of a new bus station, a new Olympic swimming pool, a gondola and a golf course, as well as many other important and significant projects for the life and progress of this city. As secretary, I signed several thousand urban and technical conditions and hundreds of building permits," he said in the local assembly.

Velaš pointed out that he expects the intensive implementation of all initiated projects to continue in the coming period.

"I expect that we will start with the implementation of the vertical communication that will connect the promenade and the higher city zones. Finally, after the state determines the routes and corridors of the expressway and highway, the implementation of the city bypass will continue, which, we will agree, only then makes sense to be further developed. A new city hospital is our need and this year, together with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Spatial Planning, a public competition for the development of a conceptual design will be implemented. We have many obligations ahead of us, we have many ideas and I wish you all the best and joy, and many new implemented projects for our city," he said.

Vladislav Velaš was born in Kotor in 1977. He holds a degree in geodesy from the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Belgrade. During his professional career, he has worked on numerous significant infrastructure and development projects, both in the private and public sectors.

As stated in his biography, Velaš was employed for over a decade at Energoprojekt Belgrade, one of the largest construction companies in the region, where he progressed from an intern to a leading engineer. He further enhanced his experience by working in the local government of Herceg Novi, where he served as Secretary of the Secretariat for Urban Planning and Construction Inspection since 2019.

19 councilors voted for Velaš, five abstained, while one councilor was against. The DPS councilors' club boycotted the vote.

In accordance with Article 89 of the Statute, the Municipality of Herceg Novi can have two vice-presidents. By the coalition agreement of Democratic Montenegro, the New List and the coalition "For the Future of Herceg Novi and Boka", and based on the mandates won in last year's elections, Ivan Otović from the New Serbian Democracy was appointed to the position of vice-president.

The second vice-presidential position is the result of an agreement between the Democratic Montenegro and the Nova List, and Velaš was nominated based on the Nova List's proposal.

He and businessman Čedomir Čedo Popović were arrested at the end of March for illegal construction in Baošići.

The police stated that a criminal complaint had been filed against Velaš on suspicion that he abused his official position and exceeded his authority by issuing a decision to issue a building permit for the development of a beach in Baošići, within the scope of the Special Purpose Spatial Plan for the coastal area of ​​Montenegro.

Popović's company "Carine" began work on filling and concreting the beach under their future hotel in Baošići without obtaining conservation conditions and approval from the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Heritage - which is why that institution ordered an immediate halt to the work in mid-February. The administration requested this because the work is being carried out in the UNESCO protected zone of the Kotor area and in violation of prescribed procedures, while an area of ​​12.500 square meters has now been filled in on the site of the former 1.500 square meter beach.

After his arrest, Velaš was released to defend himself from prison.

In May, he told "Vijesti" that "Customs" submitted complete legally prescribed documentation, including a contract for the lease of the coastal area, approvals from competent institutions and a revised main project, with the request for a building permit for the development of the beach in Baošići, so the permit was issued in mid-January in accordance with the Law on Construction of Structures.