The goal is not just to speak

Moved stiff thinking

Asked what was the hardest part in the first two years at the mayor’s post, Mr Vaitkus did not hide that the challenge was to change the thinking of the people working in the municipality.

« Many have been focused on the work process, not thinking or seeking the end result. Therefore, many of the work took place for a very long time. Unfortunately, the administration had to be forgiven by the administration.

The mayor did not hide that he had initially heard the suggestions of some Klaipeda residents that all the servants had to be dismissed from the municipality.

However, the Klaipeda leader disagrees. He said the administration employs many great staff.

I said we would count every penny.

« One really good employee, once considering the city budget, was surprised, we wouldn’t count every 100,000 euros? I said we would count every penny. After a while she came and said she realized what I was looking for and I wanted and stressed that she was joining the team, » the mayor recalled.

Over a hundred contenders

In half the term has been done in fact.

The mayor was pleased that this year’s city budget with all appropriations and child money « crossed » half a billion and $ 523 million. euros.

« This is a really large amount of money that has been raised in many ways. The collection of personal income and other taxes is increasing, as well as saving programs, which we implement from day one, » said A. Vaitkus, adding that Klaipeda municipality is the best use of appropriations among major cities.

This had to make a lot of effort to mobilize the municipal staff.

According to the mayor, the so -called horizontal control system was used until then.

« The governance structure is now changed to the pyramid. This has allowed the combination of all professionals’ competencies into one whole. Therefore, the results are, in my understanding, growing. The municipality has changed the salary system to work and earn. To attract top professionals, otherwise it is impossible.

List of work done

The mayor listed the greatest work done in half of his term.

These are the renovation of the facades of the Old Town and the central part of the city.

According to A. Vaitkus, this idea was welcomed by Klaipeda residents.

24 buildings have already been cleaned up, with 9 more management work under the program for heritage structures.

During these two years, the castle tower was rebuilt, ordered the Central City Mailing Studio, and the building repair project is being prepared.

St. At the request of the city leaders, the government has included this project on the list of priority at the request of the city leaders.

The quay at the Meridian sailboat is underway and the work of the Marriage House building and the environment is underway.

The mayor was also pleased with the private business initiatives in the Old Town – a hotel on Tomo Street, a rising structure instead of the former Baltic Cinema Ruins, finished by Salamander’s building at the Exchange Bridge, ongoing work in the city of Memel.

During these years, the shipping location of ships at Liepų Street Bridge was built and successfully operated.

The mayor pointed out that the traffic lights were properly adjusted during peak hours in Liepų, Minijos, Seaside streets, and a number of green arrows to the right was returned to the right.

Klemiškės street, completed installation of Liepaja highway, began to manage the road to the community home on Debrecen Street.

The works listed are only a small part that has been done.

Works: According to A. Vaitkus, a great deal of work has been done during the first two years of the mayor and they are visible in the city. Photo by Vesta Jašinskaitė

Desovietization did not happen

However, not all obligations have been met during those years.

As far as the implementation of the so -called Desovietization Act, barely a third of municipal desovietization projects have been executed within three months, others are delayed or argued in the courts.

Klaipeda Municipality is among those where desovietization did not take place, although the call of the Lithuanian Population Genocide and Resistance Research Center to abandon totalitarian or related relics in the city was a reminder to enforce the law.

« This is a question not to the mayor, but to the members of the Council, because I twice provided the council to consider this issue. I first provided the Genocide Center’s appeal to such an action. At that time the council voted against.

The mayor named his motives heard.

Politicians were wondering why, 35 years later, it was decided to abandon the relics related to the Soviet occupation.

« People said that there was quite a lot of time for desovietization. In contrasting people, the opposite people provided a version that desovietization was perhaps special before the parliamentary elections. Here the council members should be asked, and as the mayor of the city, I did my job, » Vaitkus said.

11 schools-renovation

In the middle of the term, the mayor regretted that the school renovation processes are still the most stalled.

« The project of H. Zuderman Gymnasium had to be adjusted. I have not seen such an abandoned school building during those several decades. I had to change everything – electrical installation, ventilation system. But other schools have the same problems.

A. Vaitkus emphasized that some school gyms are not even worth renovating, but new ones need to be built, as today’s new technology would allow a new gym, which could not only be larger but also modern.

« Those management works, insulating the walls of old buildings from the outside, do not give the effect. Modern ventilation systems are needed. Because most hall walls are buzzing. In other words, renovation of schools will certainly require a lot of money, » the mayor said.

The stench fails to control

During the two years of leadership, the city has not yet been able to solve the stench problem in the southern part of the city.

« Because of the lack of time, I have not yet met the Minister of the Environment, but I really have such a hope.

The mayor admitted that it is still difficult to solve the problem.

Mr Vaitkus said he had been in contact with institutions who issued permits for the activities of the company that are smoothing the city, and stressed that the issuers of the issuing were to take responsibility for the activities of those companies and, if necessary, punish and even deprive them of the activities.

« I also warned the residents if they see heavy cars parked in unusual places to report to the police or municipality.

For the pitch – the headlong

Among the uninhabited work, the biggest headache is the Revival Square, the arrangement of which started so enthusiastically, suddenly stopped last autumn, when contractors found 27 World War I explosives one by one.

The builders then demanded explosives from the area, but the misunderstanding began, who and how to learn the square in the center of Klaipeda.

« It is a pity that the legal algorithm in our country is not working for such situations. After all, it is in the city center. I hope the parliament has heard. All of this needs to be completed. The contest is currently announced for the work, » the mayor said.

It is worth rebuilding the castle

A. Vaitkus did not hide that the rebuilding of one of the four former castle towers only confirmed that it was worth lifting the whole Klaipeda castle.

« The restoration of the tower alone showed how much it gave Klaipeda residents joy and pride in their city.

The mayor stated that it was intended to take over the area leased to one ship repair company, which does not use it, resulting in the arrangement of the Cruise Ship Terminal access.

« We have the goal of Herkus Manto Street from the railway viaduct to the Exchange Bridge. Our goal is to turn that street into prestigious. Just as it should look like all the street in Klaipeda city. We will have to consult with politicians and make a list of priority managed streets.