The subject of local television, raised by Boleslawiec.org, sparked a lengthy discussion during Wednesday’s City Council session. Councillor Ewa Ołenicz-Bernacka prepared specific questions concerning, among other things, television funding and the benefits to the city of its shares in the company. The councillor also asked in detail who actually commissions programs for the television station.

Councillor Hubert Prabucki called for the issue to be addressed reliably and substantively. He said that the company’s financial statements and the text of the agreement concluded with the television station should be reviewed.

Does the city have to pay for informing residents?

City spokesperson Agnieszka Gergont, responding to Councillor Ołenicz’s probing questions, explained that the television station uses city funds to produce programs about, among other things, the budget, investments, social assistance, and social and cultural events. This means that the city is effectively paying for information that other media provide free of charge as part of their regular activities. The spokesperson added that, as the commissioning party, the city accepts that materials paid for by the municipal office are also used in the television station’s daily news broadcasts, whose financial support is prohibited by law.

A boring and subservient television station

The issue of the local television station being used by the authorities was raised by Councillor Bogusław Nowak, who recounted a conversation he had with an “Azart-Sat” employee. “If you have power and you pay, you’ll get whatever you want,” the employee told Bogusław Nowak. Councillors Nowak and Ołenicz also said that “Azart-Sat” programs were weak in substantive terms. “It’s a subservient company that only takes money and makes sugary little programs,” Councillor Nowak said.

President Roman smells a conspiracy

President Piotr Roman defended the television station against allegations made by opposition councillors. Throughout the discussion, the president expressed the conviction that the councillors’ criticism of funding the television station was the result of manipulation by other media. When he was given the opportunity to discuss the matter in an interview, which he ultimately hoped would be published, he failed to clearly state his position in the first sentence. Asked directly by Boleslawiec.org about manipulation, he replied: “Discussions are not manipulated, at least that’s how it seems to me, because I don’t read your portal.” After the conversation, he added: “Boleslawiec.org is just like TVN. It manipulates in the same way.”

We suggest that the president allocate part of the funds for Local Television “Azart-Sat” to a report about manipulation in other media.

The councillors announced that they would soon return to the subject of local television and address the issue in detail.

Other topics discussed during the session

The councillors unanimously decided to take out a loan for an investment at the Heat Energy Plant. The PLN 2.8 million loan is to be used to modernize the boiler house on Gałczyńskiego Street. One boiler house will supply heat to all consumers in the city. At the same time, the old boiler house on Kościuszki Street will be closed. The entire investment will cost approximately PLN 9.8 million net (the Heat Energy Plant will spend PLN 2 million from its own funds and borrow a further PLN 5 million).

During Wednesday’s session, Lower Silesian Deputy Voivode Zdzisław Średniawski presented awards and medals to deserving social welfare employees. The distinctions were awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland. Among those decorated were: Maria Konat, Danuta Zamaro, Bernarda Żelasko, Alina Stępniak and Ewa Słonina.

At the 20th session, the Law and Justice councillors’ club ceased to exist. Six of the club’s eight former members formed a new club called Bolesławiec 21. The new club’s members are councillors Józef Pokładek, Leszek Chudzik, Jan Jasiukiewicz, Jarosław Kowalski, Małgorzata Goleńska and Janina Piestrak-Babijczuk. Dominik Chodyra and Eugeniusz Kowalski are unaffiliated councillors.

(B.org information)