1. A SOLEMN SESSION3.10 BILLION TO BE ALLOCATED2. FACTS, INTERPELLATIONS, MOTIONS 4. “GOLDEN” MEETING OF THE CITY BOARDIt is already history...A SOLEMN SESSION OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL IN BOLESŁAWIEC, 24 MAY 1995(Transcript from a video recording by Samorządowa TVL)The session was chaired by councillor WŁADYSŁAW LANDSBERG.Alongside the councillors, the following attended: Mayor of the City, engineer JÓZEF KRÓL; Rev. Prelate WŁADYSŁAW RĄCZKA; Rev. Prelate JÓZEF GOŁEMKOWSKI; Rev. Prelate WOJCIECH MROSZCZAK; Rev. Canon WOJCIECH GIDZINSKI; Rev. Canon WŁADYSŁAW KARWACKI; Rev. Canon KAZIMIERZ RZOŃCA; and other invited guests. The Chair of the Municipal Council opened the solemn session. At the motion of councillor ANTONI SKOBLIŃSKI, the councillors said a prayer for the health of Rev. Prelate WŁADYSŁAW RĄCZKA. In accordance with the agenda, the Mayor of the City, engineer JÓZEF KRÓL, delivered a speech. We quote it in full.“Honourable Council! Reverend Priests! Dear Guests!Two days ago, a great moral authority of our times, the Polish Pope JAN PAWEŁ II, visited Polish soil. In his homily, he appealed for the wise and persistent resolution of social and political problems in our homeland, particularly highlighting the issue of moral order. Poland is calling today to people of conscience, he stated, urging us all to take responsibility for public affairs and encouraging concern for the common good. The Pope said to us:“I know how great the costs of the transformations being carried out are, and how painfully they burden the poorest and weakest. Unemployment and the extreme poverty of many families have become a grievous plague. I trust that my compatriots will find within themselves enough wisdom, strength and perseverance to meet these difficult problems. I trust that the spirit of agreement, fraternal cooperation and genuine concern for the good of the Republic of Poland will prevail.”The beautiful and immensely important words of the Holy Father have sunk deeply into all our hearts, forming a contemporary canon of wisdom and truth.Besides the Order of the White Eagle, the Pope received the title of Honorary Citizen of Żywiec—a city with which he connected part of his rich biography.Today we are celebrating our own great and beautiful occasion, one containing rich symbolism and an important message directed toward the past. At the very first meeting of the new Municipal Council’s second term, in the reborn local-government system, councillor PAWEŁ ŚLIWKO submitted a motion to honour the undisputed merits of Rev. Prelate WŁADYSŁAW RĄCZKA with the highest distinction that the city and its residents can bestow upon a citizen. At a tense time of seeking agreement, cooperation and harmony, this idea won recognition and support. Our distinguished jubilarian became a symbolic keystone of pro publico bono activities, a spiritual patron and benefactor of increasingly harmonious cooperation among councillors representing various political options. We sought, and continue to seek, what unites us rather than divides us. The figure of the dean, the first Honorary Citizen of Bolesławiec in the history of the Third Republic of Poland, constitutes a significant historical fact on the local scale, a kind of credo directing the time to come.Rev. Prelate WŁADYSŁAW RĄCZKA has lived in Bolesławiec for several decades, permanently linking his biography with the city through pastoral work and extensive social activity. The rank of his professional merits, abilities and talent is demonstrated by his receiving the dignity of Canon of the Cathedral Chapter of the Diocese of Legnica. The prelate is a man of extraordinary stature and great heart, open to other people and to the world of their needs, in accordance with the canons of the Roman Catholic faith he proclaims. He proves this every day through his long and diligent life, devoted to his parish and the faithful, among whom he enjoys exceptional esteem, respect, attachment and recognition. A noble, dignified and wise man, actively participating in the life of the local community. An enlightened shepherd who commands respect even among people with different philosophical views; a citizen and patriot with broad intellectual horizons, immense personal culture, tact and love directed toward all people.The prelate’s achievements include establishing new parishes in Bolesławiec; the first construction projects for new churches originated in his parish. For years, in his pastoral work, he has taught us the most beautiful and noble truths arising from the Gospel and the social teaching of the Church and—no less importantly—has set a good example through his conduct and daily behaviour. The consistency of words and deeds, identification with his fellow human beings and every parishioner, and the most humane, cordial and selfless performance of religious and priestly ministry account for his high authority locally and in the wider community. Hard-working, modest and conscientious, wholly devoted to his surroundings and the faithful, he has permanently entered the memory of the contemporary residents of the town on the Bóbr, earning widespread gratitude in the community.The priest’s merits to the city and its residents are difficult to measure and assess fairly. Yet if he enjoys widespread sympathy, respect, recognition and admiration; if he distinguishes himself through wisdom, culture, tact and an authentic mission in proclaiming the truths of the faith; if he has lived without conflict in a complicated religious and civic community for many decades, remaining faithful to the principles of Christian ethics he proclaims; if he has given the city his talent, knowledge and, above all, deep faith, becoming a model of a splendid teacher and educator—then he has fully deserved the title of HONORARY CITIZEN OF BOLESŁAWIEC.The above facts led the councillors unanimously to adopt a resolution granting the first TITLE AND DIGNITY OF HONORARY CITIZEN OF BOLESŁAWIEC of the new term of the reborn local government, which I ask the prelate to accept.On this occasion, offering sincere congratulations, I wish the distinguished jubilarian many years of life in good health and complete satisfaction from the feeling of having conscientiously fulfilled his duty as Priest and Citizen of our city, from today bearing the title of HONORARY CITIZEN.”In turn, Chair of the Municipal Council WŁADYSŁAW LANDSBERG read the text of the diploma and offered heartfelt congratulations. The commemorative medal of HONORARY CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF BOLESŁAWIEC, together with a commemorative hand-carved wooden platter, was presented by Mayor JÓZEF KRÓL. A bouquet of roses and congratulations from the councillors was presented by Deputy Chair of the Municipal Council HUBERT PRABUCKI; councillor JANINA PIESTRAK–BABIJCZUK also presented a beautiful bouquet of flowers.(The recipient of the honour, Rev. Prelate WŁADYSŁAW RĄCZKA, spoke:“Mr Mayor of Bolesławiec! Mr Chair of the Honourable Council! Honourable Council! Ladies and Gentlemen! Dear priests, brothers in the priesthood!I am immensely moved by the words spoken here about me, for which I thank you most sincerely. And I am somewhat afraid whether I have truly grown up to the ideals that have been presented here.I sincerely thank you for this honourable distinction, which I wish to share with the residents of Bolesławiec, with the priests of the city of Bolesławiec and the deanery, as well as with everyone with whom I have had the opportunity to cooperate and work over these years in our city. I feel particularly honoured above all because I have been able to work in such a noble community as the Bolesławiec community, as well as among the residents of the deanery. For all our cooperation to date, I wish to offer my heartfelt thanks and, at the same time, to ask—as once a young parish priest who received his first parish asked his parishioners when he met them:-Help me to be a parish priest; help me fulfil my duties—duties so responsible before God and before my own conscience... And it is precisely this request that I address to you, Ladies and Gentlemen, to this respected gathering. It is this request for further help, so that I may continue, to the measure of my strength and abilities, to work for the good of the Bolesławiec community, for the good of the Church of Christ, and also for the good of our beloved homeland. God bless you.”The councillors sang “STO LAT” for the distinguished recipient, and Chair of the Municipal Council WŁADYSŁAW LANDSBERG raised a toast:“Raising this toast on my own behalf, on behalf of the councillors and the entire urban community, I wish the Priest many, many years of life, good health and complete satisfaction in his pastoral work.Bolesławiec has been fortunate, and remains fortunate, to have good stewards in the material sphere, but it has also been fortunate to have good architects of the spiritual sphere, and in this sphere the Priest has undeniable achievements. During his long pastoral service to the residents of our city, I express this opinion on behalf of all the residents of Bolesławiec. Once again, I wish you all the best, many years of life and very, very good health.”Councillor PAWEŁ ŚLIWKO approached the microphone and delivered a longer speech—without notes.“Everything that is to happen to you is written in the Book of Life, and the Wind of Eternity blindly turns its pages...” This poetic motto, taken somewhat provocatively from the “Koran,” the holy book of Muslims, is in no way adequate to the life credo of our Reverend Prelate.I think we would have to turn to the wisdom of the peoples of the East, and one of their sayings goes as follows:-A lone fisherman cannot hold back the sea’s tide, but he can warn his neighbour’s children with his cry...And so it was many times during our turbulent, difficult post-war years in Bolesławiec, when the figure of the Reverend Priest was precisely an oasis of peace and security.I think, however, that we—people of Europe, those moving toward the European Community—have the right to recall today the principles of Roman culture. They are brief, synthetic, beautiful and apt, and this is probably the most appropriate and accurate motto which, enriched by Christian reflection, may constitute a complete portrait of his merits in the social sphere, the charitable sphere and, of course, the pastoral sphere.First—the Romans maintained—we must love our homeland.Second—we must live honestly.Third—we must respect human beings and despise no one.Fourth—we must be just.And this is precisely that credo, that synthesis of human thought, enriched in everyday practice by the dean through the consistency of words and deeds. It constitutes a beautiful message that remains relevant to this day. How many times I have had the pleasure of listening to the priest’s wise words while sitting inside our beautiful Baroque church, with its ancient Gothic and Romanesque foundations, where great and truthful advice was offered in philosophical terms: how to live, what the meaning of human life is. I am thinking of both its immanent meaning and its transcendental meaning, about which the priest was always able to speak beautifully and convincingly.And this is an undisputed merit, a great merit, a merit that forms part of our city’s history as something perfect, something deserving dissemination, acceptance and approval without a dissenting voice. Warm echoes resounded in those beautiful sermons, and every person has in their life story a fragment, a chapter, that they particularly cherish. For the generation of veterans and fighters for Poland, it is the time of their youth, the time of struggle; for other people, it is their entire rich life, their inner and spiritual life, the thoughts and reflections accompanying us from the dawn of youth to late old age. And I think that in this respect our prelate is a true master, because he is not a cheap didactician, nor someone who merely orders people to act in accordance with the Decalogue or other established humanist values. He is someone who remains a great master, a great guide through the land of truths, through the realm of the most important values accompanying a person throughout life. And this is beautiful, unique and noble; this is what we value most highly in the prelate.I believe it is worth conveying one more reflection here. He has always spoken, and still speaks, about patriotism in words that are so beautiful, inspiring and convincing. Something in this recalls Norwid, who said: “The homeland is a great exemplary duty.” Something in it echoes the words of Jan Matejko, who was Czech—and I mention this because the Polish Pope’s most recent visit was to the Czech Republic. Jan Matejko said a significant sentence: “To my land—to Poland—my love belongs...”And that is why I learned throughout my adult life from the dean, and for that I am especially personally grateful.I think that, in accordance with what Cardinal of the Millennium Stefan Wyszyński said, it is worth commemorating such facts in stone. The Cardinal said literally:-“When human memory fails, let the stones speak...” Our human memory often fails. In Bolesławiec too. Therefore, I believe it would not be improper if I proposed that a small plaque be placed by the Councillors’ Hall of the new Town Hall (new in the sense of being renovated), as a lasting symbol of our memory of the merits of the first Honorary Citizen of Bolesławiec in the Third Republic of Poland, of the merits of a man of great heart and great mind—Rev. Prelate WŁADYSŁAW RĄCZKA.I wish—as this is a toast—every good thing, many years of life and further success, and personal satisfaction in working for the good of our city—pro publico bono.”Rev. Prelate WŁADYSŁAW KARWACKI spoke very highly of the priest’s work, offering heartfelt congratulations and best wishes.The jubilee—10TH SESSION OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL—entered the chronicle of the town on the Bóbr in golden letters.MORE THAN 10 BILLION OLD ZŁOTYS TO BE ALLOCATEDThe concept of a so-called budget surplus is not adequate to the scope of the term, but it has become so firmly established in common consciousness that it replaces the term “above-plan revenues in the city budget.” The name matters less; the fact remains that more than 10 billion (old) złotys are to be allocated by the councillors at the next session. A beautiful gift. Unfortunately, this money will not meet all needs...Where did this money come from? The municipal property generated 359,000 new złotys; personal and corporate income tax brought in 376,000 new złotys; the exploitation fee—17,000 złotys; and other revenues—from municipal services and bank interest—increased receipts to the city treasury by 35,000 złotys. Housing allowances were also reduced by 300,000 złotys, leaving a “round” amount of 1,087,000 new złotys to be spent.And here the real difficulties begin: what should the money be spent on, since urgent needs could not be listed even on a buffalo hide? Various options, lobbies and views clashed in the individual committees; the councillors showed enormous inquisitiveness, spared no criticism and levelled accusations. There was no shortage of populism, demagogy and particularism in the emotional statements. Today we present preliminary proposals for the distribution of the funds; in the next issue of “Głos” we will give the final version approved by the Municipal Council session.Construction of a refuse dump in Trzebień—200,000 złotys; MZK—renovation of four buses—180,000 złotys; MZGM—building repairs and central-heating connection—170,000 złotys; kindergartens—wages and salary increases, higher central-heating prices, boiler-room repairs—128,510 złotys; construction of a garage complex on Komuny Paryskiej Street—110,000 złotys; car park on the same street—20,000 złotys; Town Hall repairs and renovation of the main staircase, a historic monument—101,840 złotys; administration—material expenses, central heating, postal and telecommunications services, office materials, etc.—80,700 złotys; boiler room at the Music School—heating the new building—10,000 złotys; wage increases for municipal nursery employees and higher central-heating charges—10,510 złotys; Bolesławiec Cultural Centre—materials for water and sewage, central-heating and fire-protection installation repairs, wages and documentation—24,380 złotys; Municipal Library—new books and central-heating charge—8,000 złotys; primary schools—activity clubs—5,000 złotys; MOSiR—bed linen for the hotel—2,000 złotys; MOS sports clubs—Krasnale Rally, BKS and Taekwondo equipment and hall rental—2,820 złotys; interest on a loan from WFOS—9,120 złotys; spatial planning, including changes to the land-use plan—15,000 złotys; property valuation costs for properties to be sold—17,000 złotys; purchase of a mower for the MOS sports stadium—1,000 złotys.Are these appropriate proposals, or are there more important needs in the city? The decision belongs to the councillors. We will devote a separate commentary to this issue.”“GOLDEN” MEETING OF THE CITY BOARDHow quickly time passes... On 14 September, the next—50th, and therefore jubilee—meeting of the City Board took place. It was held without a jubilee celebration, although Mayor engineer JÓZEF KRÓL did not fail to recall some interesting statistics at the outset. Each meeting of the seven members of the city authorities lasts an average of five hours, so they have already spent 250 hours together discussing the city’s most important matters. That this was not time wasted is shown by the successive minutes, which make up a substantial volume containing a synthesis of the facts, all decisions and registers of events. From the previous local-government term, JAN JASIUKIEWICZ and ANDRZEJ CZARCIŃSKI are once again serving in their positions. The new members represent various political options, but no one asks about party membership cards, creating a kind of unwritten and distinctly masculine arrangement—there are only men here: there are no political divisions; the focus is on the affairs of the city and its residents, our local community.Disputes and arguments are substantive, without an ideological backdrop. There are no shouting matches or quarrels; standards of speaking and responsibility for one’s words apply, followed later by consistent defence of the Board’s position as a team. This is neither a clique nor a coterie, neither a mutual-admiration brotherhood, but simply a team of individuals concerned about the fate of the town on the Bóbr, none of whom tries to steal the limelight. There are no figureheads, passive and silent people, opportunists, demagogues or cheap populists pursuing particular interests. Three retirees, with their rich life experience and knowledge, balance the dynamism of the younger councillor representatives. One may speak of mutual respect, sympathy and loyalty, which by no means signifies passive acceptance of the leader’s opinion. Everyday life brings hundreds of important matters to be resolved responsibly and consistently, and the City Board takes on these challenges, postponing nothing ad acta. The cooperation is exemplary, and there is every chance that this personnel composition will endure until the end of the term, to quote the Mayor of the City.The meeting was “golden” because it was the fiftieth; as always, it was devoted to resolving budgetary matters, planning Bolesławiec’s development programme, analysing MZK’s work, distributing the so-called budget surplus and other issues. The Fire Service benefited most this time: overdue payments were cancelled, and the indoor swimming pool was also made available free of charge for professional training. The following year’s budget revenues were discussed, as participants sought ways to increase receipts for the city’s meagre treasury. They debated—civilly—the methodology for preparing the financial plan and inflation-related increases imposed on residents, for example through higher rents; all councillors would decide on these at the budget session. They considered expanding the powers of municipal councillors in planning the development of the local community, prepared draft resolutions and a list of priorities for municipal investment, education and housing repairs. There was time for an on-site inspection of the former hotel buildings of ZG “Konrad,” which are being adapted into housing. In short—a normal day’s organic work for the city.FACTS, INTERPELLATIONS, MOTIONSThe 11th session of the Municipal Council in Bolesławiec was marked by polemics, disputes and discussion concerning the establishment of a Programme Council for the Local Government Television and a monument near the building of the District Police Headquarters. The report of the Municipal Social Welfare Centre and the Health and Social Welfare Committee, changes to this year’s city budget, the scope and rules for awarding budget grants for tasks carried out as part of extra-budgetary management, even taking out a loan from the Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management and a complaint filed with the Supreme Administrative Court in Wrocław, did not arouse much emotion.There was no shortage of interpellations.Councillor Zdzisław ABRAMOWICZ was concerned about the future organisation of schools after their takeover by the municipal government. He expressed concern about overcrowded classes, with up to 35 pupils. He suggested devoting a separate session to educational issues. He accused the authorities of sluggishly implementing some residents’ requests. He also presented the tragic situation of a five-person family with a growing child with a disability, occupying one room on Willowa Street. The Mayor comprehensively explained the doubts and dispelled concerns regarding education. On the traffic issue—reducing vehicle speed to 40 km/h on Willowa Street and part of Leśna Street—and the intersection of Komuny Paryskiej Street with the bypass near the market, consultations with WDD were under way, and the specialist IM and PP committee took an interest in the issue. Comprehensive solutions and modernisation of road traffic in the city require a great deal of money, which is lacking. Little can be done about the housing shortage either: poverty is simply increasing, and this subject was discussed at the session.Councillor Edmund MALIŃSKI addressed the issue of the sewage treatment plant. Residents of Graniczna, Staszica and Łąkowa Streets are terrified by the unpleasant odour that enters their homes when the wind is unfavourable.The Mayor explained that the order of work at the sewage treatment plant had been changed. Construction of sludge lagoons was suspended. Expensive technological equipment—centrifuges and sludge presses—would be purchased later that year. The sludge would not remain in an open tank, which should reduce the nuisance of the fumes. Insulating greenery would also be planted. The city is taking out loans for these purposes, among others.Councillor Dorota PIŃCZUK criticised the lack of consultation with the Education, Culture and Sport Committee regarding the letter sent to the Education Authority on the organisation of schools. She described this as reprehensible.According to the Mayor, the City Board had approached the matter very thoroughly. Consultations had been held with school principals. The analysis was substantive, and the programme had been considered jointly. The conclusions were sent to the Education Authority. There had not been enough time to consult the committee about the information; its last effective meeting had taken place on 29 May. Subsequent meetings had not taken place. The speaker expressed hope that the committee’s difficulties were temporary.Councillor Andrzej CHODYRA spoke out against cigarette advertising in the city. He disagreed with the content of the City Board’s written response, which stated that “the existence of cigarette advertisements does not conflict with the applicable regulations.” In an extensive presentation, the councillor discussed the harmfulness of smoking. He was interested in the Health Committee’s opinion. He also criticised the discontinuation of the councillors’ magazine “Wspólnota,” requesting that the subscription be restored.The response was sent to the interested party in writing. There are currently 11 advertising boards on municipal properties, from which MZGM receives 56 million złotys annually. The current order of the Minister of Health requires information about the harmfulness of smoking to occupy 10% of the surface area of advertising posters. A bill providing for a complete ban on cigarette advertising is before the Sejm, and this will ultimately resolve the problem.The decision to discontinue the subscription to “Wspólnota” was based on the results of a survey conducted among the councillors. Several copies of the magazine are received by individual clubs, so it remains available.Councillor Eugeniusz KOWALSKI asked, on behalf of the residents of 5 Widok Street, about the possibility of constructing a pavement beside their building. The street’s level, flush with the kerb, causes waste to flow toward the building. He was assured that the matter would be resolved through working procedures. In response to a question about budget surpluses for school repairs, he received a negative answer: the city had no money. Educational issues returned repeatedly during the council’s proceedings.Let us omit the other details. By 18 votes, the Municipal Council appointed the Programme Council of the Local Government TV (6 votes against and 1 councillor abstaining), composed of: Andrzej CZARCIŃSKI, Elżbieta GAWLIK, Władysław LANDSBERG, Wojciech KRZYWDZIŃSKI, Zenon PILARSKI, Piotr ROMAN and Paweł ŚLIWKO. It is an advisory and consultative body, with no possibility of directly interfering in the editorial team’s work, but the disputes and controversies were endless... The members themselves chose Zenon PILARSKI, the councillor with the shortest length of service, as their head. Within this body, by contrast, there are no disputes or inflated ambitions.The Council adopted, by the same number of votes, a resolution concerning the future of the monument-obelisk near the District Police Headquarters. It approved the City Board’s motion—endorsed by the Voivodeship Police Commander—to change the wording on the commemorative plaque to: “To the officers of the Citizens’ Militia and the Civic Guard who fell defending public order and security in 1945–1950—The Society of the Bolesławiec Region.” Common sense and the principle of compromise prevailed, a sign of normality and of ranking problems according to importance.One more unpleasant note. Sixteen councillors submitted a motion to remove Mr Ryszard SKAWIŃSKI from the Education, Culture and Sport Committee, of which he was a member from outside the Council. Six councillors opposed this, and two abstained. The decision was made. The final chord was the decoration of Mayor Józef KRÓL and City Board member Paweł ŚLIWKO with gold medals bearing the name of J. Kiliński, “FOR MERIT TO POLISH CRAFTS,” by Senior Guild Master Eugeniusz STACHOWSKI.