On 23 January 2025, during a session that lasted more than four hours, the atmosphere was tense, and it was also difficult to regard the councillors’ discussion as substantive. Paweł Skiersinis accurately identifies council chairwoman Antonina Szelechowicz as responsible for the chaos during the session.
– The reason was the way the council proceedings were conducted – explains Paweł Skiersinis. – The chairwoman limited the discussion; all it took was for a councillor from her club to submit a motion to close the discussion, and she immediately accepted it. Councillor Michał Sudoł reacted sharply to such conduct by the chairwoman, saying: “Madam Chairwoman, you are conducting these proceedings as if you were at your own party.” – Skiersinis adds, referring readers to the recording of the session.
Michał Sudoł had no doubts about whom the budget changes carried out by the council with the votes of Współpraca i Doświadczenie would affect.
– By reallocating funds for the construction of village community centres in Milików and Gierałtów, 50% to each in equal portions, you are taking funds from the general and earmarked reserves for salaries and related costs in educational institutions, including retirement severance payments and health leave, the mayor’s awards for teachers, health assistance for teachers, and crisis management – councillor Michał Sudoł listed.
Skiersinis criticised the refusal to allow the director of the Municipal Cultural and Sports Centre and the heads of the Municipal and Commune Social Welfare Centre and the School Services Administration Unit to speak during the January proceedings.
– The Chairwoman of the Municipal Council justified the refusal to give them the floor by saying that she refers every person to the relevant committee – Skiersinis explains. – At a very important budget session, the heads of municipal units are not given the floor even though the budgets of those units depend directly on the budget of the entire municipality. The significant reduction in funding for culture should be discussed. Only the Sznablowski Festival is not at risk; there will be no money for all other concerts and events. PLN 5,000 has been left for promoting the municipality for the entire year. The Municipal Guard’s salaries are not enough for even two full-time positions. The budget reallocations in the municipality’s 2025 budget made by the council with the votes of Współpraca i Doświadczenie may affect teachers’ salaries, delay other important investments in the municipality, and lead to problems with lighting infrastructure. Budget cuts may lead to a deterioration in the quality of public services, limit opportunities for cultural and educational development, and also affect the daily lives of municipality residents – Skiersinis lists.
The operation of the Municipal Guard was also the subject of a heated discussion during the session.
– In 2024, councillors increased the number of positions for municipal guards, and after several months reduced this unit’s budget – explains Paweł Skiersinis. – Councillor Iwona Zamorska openly stated that she is not a supporter of the Municipal Guard and, in her opinion, it should be abolished. Ms Zamorska asked: which municipality in Bolesławiec County has a municipal guard? No answer was given during the session, but I would point out that the urban municipality of Bolesławiec does, as do the municipalities of Lubań, Lwówek, Gryfów and Mirsk, which have also established municipal guards. Councillor Damian Kozioł suggested that order in the municipality of Nowogrodziec should be maintained by a private security company: an intervention group. Councillors from Współpraca i Doświadczenie noted that this would cost several thousand złoty. Probably for guarding one facility in the municipality. The idea is exotic! What powers does such an intervention group have? It may, indeed, use direct coercion in situations involving a threat to health or life and protect property. However, it does not have powers such as checking citizens’ identities. In my opinion, the Municipal Guard in Nowogrodziec should be developed and turned into a fully functional unit. Abolishing is not an achievement; developing, improving and enhancing is – Skiersinis adds.
The deputy mayor commented on the reallocation of funds from the budget for lighting.
– We have an agreement to lease poles from Tauron for PLN 190,000 – said Andrzej Drąg. – Please tell me how we are supposed to pay PLN 190,000 when we have PLN 118,000, and how we are supposed to carry out other tasks that are also included in this budget line, including electricity distribution—in other words, are we going to switch off all the lamps tomorrow? Because we will pay for that? – Drąg asked opposition councillors.
Paweł Skiersinis concludes: I think the councillors are playing at being local government officials, while the heads of the units are left to worry about how to cope with this budget.