Обектив

The program for implementation of the municipal development plan in 2006 and 2007 was adopted. It has been prepared by the European Integration Department and covers a number of projects on which the municipality will have to seek funding. Councillor Recep Sijim expressed dissatisfaction that 95% of the projects are for Velingrad, and the mayoralties are again underestimated.

The office of "Expert Local Economic Development" will be opened in the municipal administration. The person holding this position will also be the Head of the European Integration Department. The municipality also adopted the conditions for participation in the project "Local economic development and marketing of Bulgarian municipalities". Out of a total of 42 Bulgarian municipalities, 10 will be selected to participate in the project, funded by the Foundation for Refhormation in Local Government, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the International Association of Urban Governments. The ultimate goal of the project is to train analysts and initiators of local economic development.

COMPETITIONS Competitions are forthcoming for renting a municipal shop and land for placing a POT in the quarter. Kamenitza. After agreement with the school management and the mayor of the village, the request for placing a commercial site in the yard of the school in Draginovo was not approved. Without a competition, the terms of the pavilions' contracts will be extended to the monument in front of the church in the quarter. Ludjene.

EXHIBITION The decision to have or not to have a jazz festival and trade show in mid-August was postponed. The councillors want more information about the intentions of the company "Bulgarian Business Forum", which wants to organize the two parallel events. So far, only informally is known that the company is ready to give 30 000 leva with which the municipality to organize the festival. Advisers' opinions about the trade show were divided. Ivan Lebanov was strongly opposed to giving foreign companies the best places to trade and protect the interests of local businesses in August.

AUTOGARA The Municipal Council satisfied the request of Intertour-Beev Ltd., represented by Dimitar Beev, to liquidate co-ownership in the area of the bus station of Chepino Motor Transport. The firm will buy out the municipal share of ownership of the former breakfast pavilion, which is part of the bus station's massive building. The price determined by a licensed appraiser for the transaction is 18 500 leva.

A week after refusing to vote 36,000 leva for the purchase of computers for the administration, the councillors changed their position. The money is provided by the Privatization Costs Fund.

A dispute broke out in the Municipal Council whether to have a special temporary commission for post-privatization control or to have these functions performed by the Standing Committee on Municipal Property. The interim committee was elected in 2004, but due to its large membership of 11 members, it failed to meet and was closed down. The councillors argued whether they did not abdicate their control functions. Proposals for fewer members were also made to make it more operational, but the final decision was postponed.