In September 2008, we wrote that councillor Hubert Prabucki had issued a statement on behalf of the Ziemia Bolesławiecka and Bolesławiec XXI groups. “We stand for respecting the standards in force during proceedings. We believe that statements that may undermine citizens’ trust in the City Council’s actions are made too often,” the councillor said during the meeting. He added: “In order to prevent statements that compromise the entire Bolesławiec City Council, we ask that training be organised for councillors. Our groups do not want rhetoric to be used during proceedings in which hatred is the most frequently expressed feeling.”
Statements are one thing, but in practice things can be different. During the last City Council session, held on 27 January, another brawl broke out. After the mayor’s report, Ewa Ołenicz-Bernacka of Platforma Obywatelska, among others, took the floor. The councillor raised the issue of building a swimming pool at Popiełuszki Square. Then Bogusław Nowak (PO) joined the discussion. “On this occasion, an important problem can be raised: how sites are prepared for renovations and investment projects,” he said. “I had unpleasant experiences during the renovation of Komuny Paryskiej Street. Mismanagement was evident; materials were not secured. At the final acceptance of the works, I pointed out many shortcomings and errors in construction practice. I repeatedly asked for the situation at the entrance to the Villa Ambasada property to be improved [której Nowak jest właścicielem – przyp. red.]. Meanwhile, along the entire length of the property, the pavement was lowered by 15 cm.”
Council Chair Janina Piestrak-Babijczuk interrupted Nowak. “This is not related to the mayor’s report,” she instructed the councillor. “I wanted to show how matters are handled in the city. The city’s supervision of investments should be exemplary,” the councillor retorted.
The councillors returned to the discussion about the renovation of Komuny Paryskiej Street later in the proceedings. Hubert Prabucki of Ziemia Bolesławiecka took the floor. “As one of the oldest councillors, both in terms of service and age, I must address one matter: we forget that a councillor represents the city’s residents here, in this chamber. He should never speak in his own interest. This is the fundamental principle adopted in local governments,” he stressed. “Moreover, if a councillor is personally interested in the adoption of any resolution, he may not take part in the vote. Access to the Villa Ambasada property is, after all, Mr Nowak’s concern.”
Deputy Mayor Wiesław Ogrodnik (PiS) spoke in a similar vein: “In July last year, I met with the heads of the companies that won the tender when the contract for the reconstruction of Komuny Paryskiej Street was signed. Even then, I anticipated trouble from Councillor Nowak. During that meeting I said: the city authorities care about the proper execution of this project. Among other reasons, because this will be an investment outside our area [ulicą administruje Zarząd Dróg Powiatowych – przyp. red.]. Many people live there, and many businesses operate there. The construction should be carried out so that there are as few complaints as possible later.”
“I also said,” Ogrodnik continued, “that one of those businesspeople is Councillor Nowak, who does not sympathise with the city authorities and who does not love Bolesławiec.”
Before the final acceptance of the renovation, the city authorities consulted the administrator. “The District Roads Authority raised no objections to the execution of this road,” Ogrodnik said. The deputy mayor also addressed the issue of the entrance to Councillor Nowak’s property: “Probably during the renovation of Komuny Paryskiej Street, the councillor applied for permission to build this entrance. Entrances are always built at the expense of the person who wants one. Last year I took part in a meeting concerning matters between Mr Nowak and the contractor. I learned that an oral agreement had been reached and that Mr Nowak was supposed to pay the contractor for constructing the driveway. I was surprised to learn that the contractor would not complete this project because Mr Nowak was not fulfilling the arrangements. In short, he did not pay the contractor. An hour or two ago, I ordered someone to check whether this work had been paid for. The councillor has not paid. I do not want to call him [po imieniu]—although there is a Polish term for someone who does not pay—because I would immediately find myself in court. However, the councillor certainly exposed the contractor to certain costs. It is truly the height of insolence to involve the mayor in one’s own affairs and then raise the matter at a City Council session. Councillors are bound by a certain ethic. Ninety-five percent of Councillor Nowak’s interpellations concern his affairs, his corner, his backyard.”
“Watch your words, Mr Mayor,” Bogusław Nowak retorted. “I do. I watch my words very carefully,” Wiesław Ogrodnik replied calmly. He added: “What you present here during sessions cries out to heaven for vengeance. I am not a councillor, nor am I the Council Chair. But what I say to you, and what you get up to at these sessions—apparently according to the principle ‘Do whatever you want’—is really… I am astonished. On the other hand, speaking of private interests, the example comes from the top. It is probably no coincidence that you are a member of Platforma Obywatelska.”
At this point, Cezariusz Rudyk, head of the PO councillors’ group, asked for a five-minute break.
When the Council resumed its proceedings, the chair said: “I apologise to Councillor Nowak for the harsh and offensive words spoken in this chamber. I apologise to all the councillors. I believe such an incident should not have occurred.”
Bogusław Nowak then took the floor. “I am a councillor. But please do not forget that I am also the head of a company that employs almost 20 people. Several years ago, I took on the enormous challenge of renovating part of Komuny Paryskiej Street and lifting it out of complete ruin. Why should I not talk about it?” he asked rhetorically. “I did not receive any subsidy. Hence this fight for the proper execution of the street works. If money is being spent on an investment, let us make sure that the investment is carried out properly. We must open our eyes to the fact that companies do shoddy work, doing it as quickly and cheaply as possible.”
Councillor Nowak addressed the deputy mayor: “You can expect a court case. What you said at this session deeply offended me. You portrayed me almost as some kind of thief.”
The PO councillor then returned to the issue of the agreement with the contractor for the entrance. “Above all, I asked for an invoice, but I never received one. They wanted to receive the money in cash; I cannot do such things,” he explained. “The company was exceptionally unreliable, carried out a great deal of shoddy work, and you defended that shoddy work. We cannot afford slipshod work; we have to do things properly, otherwise in a year we will have to repair these investments again. I am surprised that the authorities side with the person who did the work badly rather than with the person who pointed it out.”
Cezariusz Rudyk joined the discussion. “I do not see an item entitled ‘assessment of the PO group’ in the record of today’s session, which Mr Ogrodnik allowed himself,” he noted. “As a group, we expect an apology from you.”
Mayor Piotr Roman also spoke: “It seems to me that some people here confuse Bolesławiec with India. There will be no sacred cows in Bolesławiec. That is my comment.”
The situation then calmed down, but only briefly. Councillor Irena Dul (SLD) asked about the rules for selling municipal garages. Jan Kisiliczyk, head of the Municipal Property and Spatial Management Department, was to answer the question. Before that happened, however, Mayor Piotr Roman allowed himself a few jibes at the SLD councillor. “To be honest, I did not understand the legal argument you made all the way to the end. I think that is the case for many people in this chamber,” Piotr Roman said. He added that this might be because his “perceptive abilities are limited here.”
“You are insulting the councillors again,” Bogusław Nowak responded. “Not for the first time today,” Irena Dul added.
“Please calm your fellow councillors,” Roman said. “Councillor Nowak has allowed himself further attacks directed at me. I will not answer you. We could return to the matter of Komuny Paryskiej Street. Say how you treated the contractors. With what insults… What you called me. What obscenities…”
“You are a liar, a liar of a mayor!” Nowak shouted. “The mayor cannot allow himself to humiliate councillors during a session.”
The brawl may end up in court. We will return to the matter.
(information ii)