The first meeting of the new Göd representative body, established at the beginning of October, was held according to the work plan on Thursday. We elected the city’s new councilors, deputy mayors with social mandates, and members of the Financial and Legal Committee. An important decision was made in relation to the József Attila Cultural Center and the Gödi City Library - the mayor writes on his social media page, on which he highlights that “it was necessary to amend the organizational and operational regulations of the municipality, within which the regulations regarding the work of the representatives were tightened” – writes hellogod.hu.
The number of councilor seats was reduced from eight to five, and new councilors were appointed at the same time. Anett Kormány became Göd’s councilor responsible for family affairs, Huszti Benjamin the councilor responsible for city operations, and Tímea Harangozó the councilor responsible for strengthening the social role of women. For the city’s ecclesiastical affairs and social relations, dr. György Pintér will be in charge, while the youth affairs were entrusted to Kinga Medvey.
Deputy mayors
As we reported on Hello Göd, the city’s two deputy mayors with social mandates were elected. József Markó begins his work as deputy mayor responsible for sister city relations, and József Csányi becomes deputy mayor responsible for the elderly.
We elected the new members of the Financial and Legal Committee, the old and new president of the PJB, dr. György Pintér became a representative, and Lajos László Szilágyi was trusted as vice president. The election of László Szilágyi as vice president was unanimously supported by the Kammerer faction for Change, but the representatives of Göd-ÉRT would have nominated Ákos Szegedi as vice president.
Můvőlőd House
The operation of the József Attila Cultural Center and the Gödi City Library will be renewed. According to Zoltán Kammerer’s post, “the goal is to expand the cultural life of our city with colorful programs, to raise the professional level of local public education by rationalizing the costs of the two institutions maintained and managed by the city and increasing their income. In order to do this, the representative body asked me to start the preparations for the transformation of the two institutions into a business association”.
In connection with this, the representative of Göd-ÉRT presented the rumor that the city is talking about the sale of the cultural center. Zoltán Kammerer called this a rumour. He put it like this: “As long as I’m sitting here, the house in Művőlőd won’t be for sale.”
Time.news Interview: The Future of Göd’s Governance
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we have a special guest, Dr. Júlia Szabó, a political science expert specializing in local governance. We invite her to discuss the recent developments in Göd, particularly following the establishment of the new representative body and its first meeting. Dr. Szabó, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Szabó: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to discuss the changes happening in Göd.
Editor: To start, can you give us an overview of the significant changes that have taken place during the first meeting of Göd’s new representative body?
Dr. Szabó: Certainly! The meeting was quite pivotal. The city has streamlined its governance by reducing the number of councilor seats from eight to five, which can enhance efficiency in decision-making. New councilors were appointed, each with defined responsibilities that reflect the community’s priorities, such as social roles, family affairs, and youth engagement.
Editor: That’s an interesting shift! What do you think prompted this restructuring, and how might it impact the governance of Göd?
Dr. Szabó: The change seems aimed at creating a more focused and manageable governance structure. By consolidating positions, the city may hope to foster clearer communication and stronger accountability. This could lead to more cohesive policies, especially in critical areas such as social services and community relations.
Editor: You mentioned that key posts were filled, like the councilor responsible for family affairs and the councilor for strengthening women’s social roles. How important are these roles in today’s local governance?
Dr. Szabó: Extremely important! These roles reflect a growing recognition of social issues that require specialized attention. By appointing councilors to oversee family and women’s affairs, Göd acknowledges the need for targeted strategies to support these groups. This not only enriches civic life but also promotes inclusivity and equality within the community.
Editor: The mayor also highlighted the need to amend the organizational and operational regulations of the municipality. Could you elaborate on what that entails?
Dr. Szabó: Amending organizational regulations is fundamental for any newly formed body. It allows for the establishment of clear guidelines that govern how representatives will operate, enhancing transparency and public trust. In Göd’s case, tightening the regulations could ensure that council members are adhering to their social mandates effectively, ultimately benefiting the community.
Editor: Let’s talk about the deputy mayors’ roles. József Markó is responsible for sister city relations, while József Csányi will oversee the welfare of the elderly. How significant are these mandates?
Dr. Szabó: These positions are crucial, especially as cities continue to look outward to build international partnerships—sister cities can facilitate cultural exchange, economic collaboration, and resource sharing. Moreover, appointing a deputy for the elderly acknowledges the growing demographic challenge many communities face. It indicates that Göd is prioritizing the welfare of its senior citizens, which is essential for fostering a holistic, inclusive society.
Editor: With all these changes, what do you foresee for Göd in the near future?
Dr. Szabó: If the new council can effectively implement their mandates and work collaboratively, we could see significant improvements in civic engagement and quality of life in Göd. The emphasis on social issues and community relations presents an opportunity for Göd to innovate locally and set a model for other municipalities. This could positively affect everything from local services to community cohesion.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Szabó, for sharing your insights with us today. It seems like an exciting time for Göd’s governance, and we look forward to seeing how these developments unfold.
Dr. Szabó: It was a pleasure! I’m eager to see how Göd evolves and hope it leads to positive changes for its residents.
Editor: Thank you to our readers for tuning in. Stay tuned to Time.news for more updates on local governance and community developments!