Due to the lack of a quorum for decision-making, the session of the Capital City Assembly was adjourned, so the councilors will vote on five items on the agenda (amendments to the Rules of Procedure, the Statute of the Capital City Assembly, working hours with parties in the Municipal Police, as well as several elections and appointments) at a later date.
Podgorica Mayor Saša Mujović, his associates and several city company leaders spent nine hours today discussing and answering 70 questions from councilors.
The head of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) councilors' club, Andrija Klikovac, said that it was known in advance who would lead the "Greens".
"Kudos to the Europe Now Movement (PES), Milojko Spajić and Saša Mujović, for once again making Jakov Milatović cross the water in a thirsty state. We know that it was political blackmail to allocate another half a million euros to the presidency. This is something that Novica Vuković has questioned," Klikovac pointed out.
He said that problems in government will continue to occur, adding that one of the recent examples of this is the possible dismissal of the director of the Agency for the Management of Protected Areas, Stojan Sjekloća.
According to him, the government has "a good appointment for the Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica".
"We want to build quality working relationships with someone who has proven to be responsible in their work so far, and to give them the opportunity to show their results in the coming period. We will take a position and have criticism based on them," he said.
The head of the Movement for Podgorica councilors' club, Miloš Krstović, said that a labor inspection was conducted at "Zelenil" and that it determined that "there were no irregularities" in the company.
"Therefore, this appointment is absolutely legal and we are electing the professional director in accordance with the law," said Krstović, adding that DPS cadres "are not being expelled from the prosecutor's office and the courts."
The city company "Zelenilo" is currently headed by Nemanja Gajović, who is acting (vd), and today the Selection and Appointments Committee nominated him for a full term.
Klikovac told Krstović that he had not heard from him that he "welcomed the acquittal of Miomir Mugoša, Predrag Bošković...".
"We only had a verdict for the members of the Council of Radio and Television of Montenegro. Mr. Svetozar Marović was sentenced by a final verdict during the DPS period...", he said.
The head of the PES councilors' club, Anđela Mićović, said that the Council of the Agency for the Management of Protected Areas found a number of shortcomings in the work of Stojan Sjekloća.
He invited the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, to check the diploma of the candidate for the new director of the Agency for the Management of Protected Areas.
The course of the session
Capital city officials said they will consider making public transportation free for all Podgorica citizens starting next year, and that will cost just over seven million euros.
This was said by Podgorica Mayor Saša Mujović during a special session intended for councilor questions.
Primary and secondary school students, as well as pensioners, are currently entitled to free transportation.
According to him, city authorities must act responsibly and see "what is currently best for the citizens of Podgorica."
Mujović, responding to questions from Democratic councilor Mitar Paunović regarding the projects of the Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica, said that he was most proud of the reconstruction of Veljko Vlahović Boulevard.
He also reminded that Kozaračka and Miloša Obilića Streets have been renovated. They are planning, he said, to reconstruct Radovan Zogovića Street and Cara Lazara Street...
Councilor of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Vladan Arsović asked how the projects within "Velji Brdo" will be equipped with utilities.
Dejan Mugoša (Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica) said that the Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica recently received the Spatial Urban Plan (PUP) of Podgorica.
"The PIP was submitted a week ago. It is necessary to adopt a new PIP within 22 months," Mugoša pointed out.
Secretary of the Secretariat for Finance and Budget Analysis Balša Špadijer said that this issue is not within his jurisdiction.
Arsović said that councilors and citizens are not familiar with the settlement that will be built as part of the Velje Brdo project.
His councilor colleague Žaklina Oštir was, among other things, interested in what was happening with the Mediterranean Garden "which resembles a shrub garden."
"Will anything be done with Gorica at all? What about the Mediterranean Garden," she asked.
Nemanja Gajović, acting director of the city company "Zelenilo", said that the company is engaged in trail maintenance.
Therefore, he said, "Zelenilo" has limited impact on Mount Gorica, given that it is a protected area.
She also asked sharply whether there were plans to open a catering facility and an amphitheater on that hill.
Acting Director of the Agency for Protected Areas Management Stojan Sjekloća said he was not aware that this was planned.
Ana Krivokapić, from DPS, asked on the basis of which price lists the prices for holding concerts in the M-tel Hall for this and last year were formed.
Maja Vujović, assistant director of "Sports Facilities", said that the price for using the M-tel hall is formed by a special price list.
The amount, she said, is 310 euros per hour.
DPS councilor Šukrija Serhatlić asked when the department store in the city center would be completed.
Acting Director of the Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica, Bajko Vučićević, said that the project is worth 250.000 euros, and that two bids were received in response to the public call.
"We are currently in the appeal period. We expect to conclude a contract with the selected designer soon. It will have a gym, multimedia rooms for broadcasting. Three floors are planned for commercial purposes, and a space for a coffee bar is planned on the roof," he said, adding that the deadline for the project is 150 days.
Civic Movement URA councilor Milena Vuković asked whether the company "Water Supply and Sewerage" had given its consent to the Proposal for Amendments to the Spatial and Urban Plan (PUP) of Podgorica.
The director of that company, Aleksandar Nišavić, said that "Vodovod", during the public debate on that document, made certain remarks "which the public was also aware of."
European Progress Party (SEP) councilor Jelena Knežević asked Gavril Vuković (Secretariat for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development) what stage the process of constructing the wastewater treatment plant is in, as well as whether the property and legal conditions have been met.
Preokret councilor Srđan Perić was interested in why the local community bodies have not yet been elected. He asked why the councilors have no feedback on the issue. He believes that this will be a "new onslaught of parties."
His councilor colleague Mirza Krnić asked the Secretary of the Secretariat for Finance and Budget Analysis, Balša Špadijer, on the basis of which it is claimed that Podgorica will have to pay "penalties" in the amount of 100 million euros if the collector in Botun is not built. He asked Sjekloca what measures have been taken to prevent the devastation of the Rikavac and Bukumir lakes.
"What specific measures have you taken? Have you established cooperation with inspection bodies within the Capital City to stop this damage? We saw that a tunnel was dug. I have information that people from that place were not consulted, and the work began," said Krnić, asking Sjekloca whether there were any party-related hirings at the Podgorica Agency for the Management of Protected Areas.
Sjekloća said that "nothing was done by the Agency in Komovi that was not foreseen in the plan."
Councilor of the Europe Now Movement (PES), Valentina Kažić, asked how the center of Podgorica would be modernized and renovated, and what the timeframe for that would be.
Vučićević said that Slobode Street is currently being reconstructed. He also pointed out that the project for Miljana Vukova Street has been completed.
"The agency has announced a public call for proposals for the reconstruction of the Podgoričanka department store. The procedure is in its final phase. The deadline for the project is 45 working days... In the city center, we have final works on the City Theater," he said.
The head of the Democrats in the city parliament, Mitar Paunović, was interested in what the director of "Vodovod" Aleksandar Nišavić had done to improve the company's operations. He asked him how many charges had been filed against former members of management.
Nišavić responded that four criminal charges had been filed. He recalled that the current management built the water supply system in Bratonožići, and that water supply networks had been built in several locations.
Democratic Councilor Mitar Vuković was interested in what was happening with the Save Kovačević Boulevard. According to him, the construction of that boulevard would solve a problem promised back in 2010.
Vučićević said that the main project has been positively revised. He said that an underpass will be built in that area.
Pavle Ljumović, a member of the Democrats, asked the director of "Deponija" Aleksandar Božović what the company's plan was regarding the construction of sanitary vats.
Božović replied that they had started on time so as not to end up in a situation where the issue of municipal waste disposal was not resolved. He said that they expect an impact assessment study in the next few days.
"We are continuously working to increase the level of utilization of materials from waste. Accordingly, we export edible oil, waste packaging glass...", he said.
Drago Šundić asked the acting director of "Parking Servis" Nikola Lazović what the company had done to modernize its services.
Lazović said that they actively promoted their activities, as well as content important to citizens, through digital channels. He also announced that the company is working on a "Parking Servis" application that will allow citizens to find a parking space more easily.
European Union councilor Budimir Mugoša asked the head of the Service for Support to Agriculture and Rural Development of the Capital City, Zorica Pavićević, whether the city administration had provided money from the budget this year to repair the damage caused by the fires in Bratonožići, Piperi and Kuči.
She said that the Service has visited the burned areas, adding that compensation for the damage will be paid after the assessment is completed. She said that the requests are still coming in, and that 300 have been received at the Service's address so far.
DPS councilor Ksenija Aranitović asked Deputy Mayor Boris Spalević what his position was on the construction of a collector in Botun.
He said that he supports all decisions that Mujović makes in "the implementation of this very important project."
Aranitović said that she was glad that the Democrats had a clear position and that they had opposed Milan Knežević, the leader of the DNP.
She was also interested in what the Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica had done in the last two years "with information on when they started, what deadlines were defined and whether there were any delays in implementation".
Vučićević said that the Agency had submitted an eight-page response to her, and that last year they completed 27 projects on municipal equipment, reconstruction and construction of roads. He said that they had published 16 public calls this year, and that they had five more in preparation.
"The Agency has 21 people hired on a contract basis," he replied.
Quorum achieved, no DNP councilors
Mujović, his associates and several city leaders are answering several councilor questions today.
The session was attended by 42 councilors, so the City Assembly had the necessary quorum.
Four councilors from the Democratic People's Party (DNP), Vladimir Bulatović, Ivana Mašković, Ranko Milić and Predrag Mitrović, did not attend the discussion of the items and councilor questions.
The opposition was not represented by the Party of European Progress (SEP) councilor Ilija Mugoša. The absence was announced by the Europe Now Movement (PES) councilor Jelena Milanković.
Councilor of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Maja Miročević Rotolo asked Deputy Mayor Nađa Ljiljanić how many service contracts were concluded in several city secretariats this year and last year.
Ljiljanić said that last year, the Secretariat for Social Welfare employed two contract workers who worked at the Health Center. This year, Ljiljanić said, seven such contracts have been concluded.
"Everything is listed on the website regarding the Secretariat for Transport and Communal Affairs," she said.
Miročević Rotolo pointed out that two million euros are being allocated from the city treasury for service contracts, and that no significant progress has been seen.
Her councilor colleague Mirjana Radulović asked Ljiljanić whether the subsidy was planned for all students or for the socially vulnerable.
She said that the Draft Budget must first be presented to the Capital City Assembly, and that she cannot give her the information "until she receives it herself."
"I really gave my word. I will advocate for this measure to be included in the budget," said Ljiljanić.
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