The Podgorica Local Government (MJ) Komani did not have electricity for ten years, due to a debt of over 17.000 euros. This is just one of the examples of how pensioners' clubs treated the premises of local communities and others owned by the Capital City, after those premises were subleased. In the meantime, as they claim from the Secretariat for Local Self-Government and Cooperation with Civil Society, with a lot of work still to be done, some problems have been solved, so MZs, as they said, are working full time, and a website has been established for each of Podgorica's MZs.
The secretariat that runs Slađana Anđušić, due to abuses and careless relations, as registered among pensioners' clubs, submitted documentation to the Administration for the Protection of Property and Legal Interests of the Capital City of Podgorica, on the basis of which the Administration should determine whether associations of pensioners, while using the premises subleased to them, broke the contracts.
"The Secretariat for Local Self-Government and Cooperation with Civil Society submitted all available documentation to the competent Administration for the Protection of Property and Legal Interests of the Capital City of Podgorica, with a request to initiate proceedings," Anđušić told "Vijesta".
Clubs of pensioners used the premises of the Capital City on the basis of a sublease agreement with the Association of Pensioners of Podgorica.
"The debts were incurred by pensioners' clubs, which were sub-lessees of state property, in accordance with the contract signed with the Podgorica Pensioners' Association. The association terminated these contracts and informed the Capital City and the then Secretariat for Local Self-Government, however, most of the subtenants remained, because the Secretariat did not perform the handover, which it was obliged to do, as it did not determine the state of the bills for electricity, water and other things. , Andjusic said.
As she added, the handover was made only on her order.
"What were the minutes written about? Precisely during that period, because of these debts, the electricity was cut off to the facilities of the local communities, so we were forced to pay all outstanding debts. "Only one bill in Komana Municipal Health Center amounted to over 17.000 euros, and the electricity was turned off for 10 years," said Anđušić.
In October of last year, the Assembly of the capital city, she reminded, passed the Decision on repealing the Decision on giving the use of space owned by the Capital City to the Association of Pensioners Podgorica free of charge:
"Taking into account the damage that was caused, and also not extending the lease contracts for the building for the needs of local communities, taking into account that the City disposes of its premises," said Anđušić.
They work full time, MZ on the Internet
During the last year, "Vijesti" wrote several times about the functioning of local communities, which, according to the regulations, represent the starting point for solving the requests of citizens in the area covered by the local community. The conclusion of the questionnaire that the editorial office carried out in cooperation with the Center for Civil Liberties (CEGAS), as well as the interlocutors that "Vijesti" contacted, was that local communities seem to have lost their primary role in practice. Also, one of the conclusions is that citizens are not sure what the role of local communities is.
During one of the field visits in Podgorica, the Cegas team registered that, out of 23, three local communities were open to citizens during working hours. Also, it was established that most municipalities in Montenegro do not have data on local communities on their website, nor the contacts of authorities that citizens could contact those closest to them in terms of place of residence.
According to Slađana Anđušić, the situation is partly different now.
"I believe that there is still a lot of work ahead of us, but so far we have done what is necessary: officers - independent officers for work with local communities work full-time from 8.00:16.00 a.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. and actively participate in the work of local communities by going out into the field, communicating with citizens and acting secretaries. They went through a series of trainings, which provide them with specific knowledge related to computer work, office operations, administrative procedures and communication with citizens," she said.
As she added, the local communities have partly adapted, and the conditions for work and participation of citizens in carrying out work are better.
"A website has been established for each of the local communities, as well as interdepartmental cooperation with other local government bodies and services, so other bodies and public services in cooperation with local communities organize their activities in the area of the local community," she told "Vijesti".
The facilities of some local communities, as she said, do not have water or sewage, so there is still a lot of work to be done:
"The fact that some facilities are in a very bad condition, that some of them do not have water or a wet toilet, speaks volumes that the job of revitalizing local communities involves various aspects of work, not only administrative and organizational work," said Andušić.
The Secretary for Local Self-Government and Cooperation with Civil Society of the Capital City of Podgorica said that, upon her assumption of office, a register was established, with all data on buildings, movable property, the number of meters, water meters, the name of the acting officer and acting secretary, contracts on use, review of accounts or debts, lease agreements...
"After the preliminary data from the census, which were published on the MONSTAT website, this register was supplemented with the preliminary number of enumerated inhabitants," she said.
The decision is still in the process
The legal position of local communities within the municipalities in which they are located is regulated by the Law on Local Self-Government and decisions made by each municipality.
According to Andušić, the decision on the functioning of local communities on the territory of the Capital City is in the process of being drafted.
As she added, the working group for drafting the proposal for a decision on local communities held its last meeting on May 17.
"The working group, at least part of it, meets regularly. The last meeting was on May 17, when we considered the latest working version, and after the deadline given to the members of the working group, we will meet to consider the suggestions. After the adoption of the Decision on local communities and the education of local community authorities, they will come to life in full capacity, available and in the interest of all citizens. I believe that everything we have done since July last year is a very good practice, because this means establishing a system, which did not exist or was very abused in several ways", she said.
Referees are assigned as needed, not by location
"Vijesti" was told from several unofficial sources that the officers who had been in certain local communities for a long time were assigned to the same position, but in another local community.
"The assignment of local officials and employees is carried out in accordance with the act on internal organization and systematization of workplaces, in order to achieve the best results in the performance of work. All employees of the Secretariat have their place of work in Podgorica. There are a total of 40 local communities, so the deployment will be constant, depending on the needs required by the performance of work", said Andušić, answering the question of how this is intended to promote the development of direct democracy and the work of local communities as a whole.
She added that the local communities did not function in accordance with the purpose of their establishment and the needs of the citizens, "and in the past period the priority was on creating material conditions for the work of local communities, as well as on personnel training of officials through the training they underwent in the past period." .
"The first group of 12 officials has just successfully completed the computer course, bearing in mind that internet communication has been established since December and that local communities have been equipped with scanners, printers and computers," she said.
It is not (yet) accessible everywhere for PWDs
Not all local community facilities are accessible for people with disabilities.
"Unfortunately, accessibility is not enabled in all facilities. Where there are conditions, we will remove the obstacles, however, we are talking about older buildings, and sometimes also new ones, such as in Hercegovačka street in MZ Nova varoš, which premises cannot be considered accessible, even less than that", she told "Vijesta Andjusic.
In the future, as she added, one must be more sensitive:
"We have to be very sensitive to the needs of our fellow citizens, and we will also take care of this".
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