The Sofia Municipal Council (SOC) rejected for the second time the proposal for a new structure of the Sofia Municipality by the Mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev.
The report was supported only by the municipal councilors from "Continuing Change-Democratic Bulgaria" and "Save Sofia", all the others voted "abstained" and "against", BTA reports.
A key change that Terziev proposes is the creation of the position of "deputy mayor for urban planning". The proposal provides for the redistribution of directorates and departments in the administration and the creation of specialized units for key areas, including the "Internal Audit" Directorate, Information Security Officer, "Anti-Corruption Inspectorate" Department, "Strategic Communications and PR" Directorate, and "Mayor's Office" Directorate.
The administrative reform of the Sofia Municipality did not happen this time either, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev told journalists. You saw that the report was rejected without much discussion, despite the changes and improvements that were made in order to avoid disputes over the key point about the legality of the proposed structure in the "Architecture and Urban Planning" Directorate and the role of the chief architect, he said.
Mayor Terziev indicated to journalists that he would submit his report for the third time, but with more improvements. I will attach even more information about how it is in other municipalities in the country to the next report, the mayor said. He expressed hope that the next meeting of the Municipal Council will be sensible. "When I see that something can happen more effectively, I will fight to make it happen", Terziev pointed out.
"If I wanted to play the victim because the structure would not pass, then I would not have listened carefully, made changes, and finally introduced it for the third time, he added. Terziev said that his goal is for the Sofia Municipality to be more effective and, with the same resources, create more benefits for the city.
The mayor said that the sick leave of Sofia's chief architect Bogdana Panayotova expires on December 14. "After that, I hope we can have a human conversation, part ways and everyone can go their separate ways - me with the administration reforms, Mrs. Panayotova with most likely a private business", the Sofia mayor pointed out. He said that it is the most normal thing to resign when confidence is withdrawn for any reason.
In this case, because we had cardinal differences about how the "Architecture and Urban Planning" Department should look like and how this structure should work, the mayor pointed out. He emphasized again that he and Bogdana Panayotova have "general differences" about what was promised and the way it should be achieved.
Terziev asked that there should be no independent islands anywhere, neither in the NAC nor elsewhere, because the municipality is one whole body and all the pieces must work together to prevent the creation of feudal kingdoms, said the mayor of the capital.
He said that he wants to create a new structure that works well for citizens and businesses. A structure in which it is clear who bears political responsibility and who, as an expert, ensures that the letter of the law is followed, so that the established deadlines are followed.
According to Mayor Terziev, this mixing occurred back when Petar Dikov was the chief architect. "Dikov also does not speak out in support of the reform in the NAC, but this is also because he is one of the creators of the current situation," the mayor said.