“The handbrake is closed”, – this is how Seimas member Audrius Petrošius responded about the direction of the ruling election committee “Ištikimi Klaipėda“.
In the second round of the mayoral elections, the member of the Seimas, who lost quite strongly to Arvydas Vaitkas, was criticized after making public the plans to stop the construction of the new Jūrininkai polyclinic on Birutė street. Instead, the old Klaipėda city polyclinic building on Taikos avenue will be reconstructed. The member of the Seimas and the politicians working in the opposition in the council named projects that were previously given the green light, but now they are being stopped: this includes the design of the bicycle path at Giruliai, the concession of the sports complex, and the reconstruction of the access to the Giruliai beach.
Council member conservative Andrius Dobranskis, who was the deputy director of administration in the previous term, says that the fact that only about 80% of the funds were used in half a year is also a cause for concern. planned funds. “The council had approved such a strategic plan. If it is not used, then, generally speaking, we are behind the pace, something is wrong,” said the politician.
This issue is also raised in the Finance and Economy Committee. Administration employees will be invited next week and will have to explain why such a significant sum was not used. “Looking a little ahead, I can see that this music has already started and I know what those in power will say: “The previous ones are to blame.” I foresee this already. This is a classic political move. We watch, we wait, we observe. But for now we don’t see anything good,” said the politician.
Eriko Ovčarenko/BNS photo/Arvydas Vaitkus
At that time, the mayor of Klaipėda, Arvydas Vaitkus, was straightforward: “The principle of today’s government is to finally start counting and rationally use the money of Klaipėda citizens and make decisions based on competence and transparency principles.”
“It is understandable that some people do not like the revision of the projects of the former political government. However, ask the people of Klaipėda how they value the construction of a 4-year school for double the price on Senvagės Street, how the people of Klaipėda value the sale of the plot on Jankaus Street, where a kindergarten and school were supposed to be built”, asked A. Vaitkus rhetorically.
Main points
- Whose money are you saving?
- Conservative Andrius Petraitis missed logic
- Liberal Edmundas Kvederis: “This leads to provincialism”
- Former mayor, social democrat V. Grubliauskas: “The trend is becoming clearer”
- Arvydas Vaitkus: “There is no solution not to build”
- Those in power raise questions about transparency
#Province #rationality #direction #Klaipėda
What specific measures will Audrius Petrošius implement to ensure transparency and prioritize citizen needs in Klaipėda’s municipal projects?
**Interview with Audrius Petrošius, Member of the Seimas**
*Interviewer:* Good afternoon, Mr. Petrošius. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent developments in Klaipėda’s municipal governance. You referred to the current situation by saying, “The handbrake is closed.” Can you elaborate on what you meant by that statement?
*Audrius Petrošius:* Good afternoon, and thank you for having me. My comment reflects a broader concern regarding the direction of the ruling committee “Ištikimi Klaipėda”. It suggests that we are stalled in terms of progress on key projects that were previously approved, which is disappointing for both the local government and residents.
*Interviewer:* You recently faced significant criticism after proposing to halt the construction of the new Jūrininkai polyclinic. Can you explain the reasoning behind this decision?
*Audrius Petrošius:* Certainly. The decision to stop the new construction was based on a reassessment of our resources and priorities. We opted to rehabilitate the existing polyclinic on Taikos Avenue instead, which we believe is a more efficient use of funds given our current budgetary constraints. However, I recognize that this has been met with backlash, especially from those who see it as a setback.
*Interviewer:* Many city projects are now on pause, including the planned bicycle path in Giruliai and the sports complex concession. What does this mean for the city’s development?
*Audrius Petrošius:* It means we need to reevaluate our strategic plan and address why initiatives that were once given the green light are now being reconsidered. It’s crucial that we utilize our allocated funds efficiently. If only around 80% of these funds are being used in the first half of the year, as Council member Andrius Dobranskis pointed out, it raises serious questions about our administration’s effectiveness.
*Interviewer:* How do you plan to address these issues in the upcoming Finance and Economy Committee meeting?
*Audrius Petrošius:* We will be inviting administration employees to clarify why there has been such a significant underutilization of funds. I anticipate some classic political responses, such as blaming previous administrations. However, our focus will be on accountability and ensuring that we can get back on track to meet the needs of our constituents.
*Interviewer:* how can the citizens of Klaipėda be assured that their needs will be prioritized moving forward?
*Audrius Petrošius:* I believe transparency is key. We need to maintain open lines of communication with our community and provide regular updates on projects. I am committed to working collaboratively with both the ruling party and the opposition to find solutions that will benefit our citizens and ensure that we are not only meeting but exceeding their expectations.
*Interviewer:* Thank you for your insights, Mr. Petrošius. We look forward to seeing how these matters progress in the coming months.
*Audrius Petrošius:* Thank you for having me. I appreciate the opportunity to share my views.
