They defined a “green zone” for paid parking in the wide center of Montana. 24 municipal councilors voted for this, three from the “Vazrazhdane” group were against. Before the vote Alexander Dimitrov argued the position of “Vazrazhdane”, stressing that according to NSI data, people’s incomes in Montana are among the lowest in the country, and the parking fee in the “blue zone” is BGN 2. According to him, the expansion of the zone for paid parking will not have a positive effect on the reduction of cars in the center, because people will continue to look for places in neighboring streets. And more, according to Al. Dimitrov, most places in the “blue zone” are empty. In response, the mayor Zl. Zhivkov stated that the amount of cars in the “blue zone” is normal, as over 60% of the places are paid for by companies. According to the decision voted today, in the new “green zone” it will be possible to stay up to 30 minutes, and it will be paid for with a ticket from a parking meter or a coupon. The fee for a stay of up to 1 hour will be BGN 1 on working days between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
In general, the extension will be within the boundaries of: Bitov Kombinat parking lot – DZI parking lot, “Izvora” street parking lot, theater parking lot, “St. Kliment Ohridski, Graf Ignatiev Street, Al. Stamboliyski”, “Dragan Tsankov” street, “Zhytomyr” hotel.
The expected income from the “green zone” is BGN 191,000, the costs for marking and assigning parking spaces BGN 10,000.
With another decision, the councilors removed from the “blue zone” the section of “Tsar Boris III” street from “Al” blvd. Stamboliyski” to the intersection with “Slavyanska” street. The goal is to facilitate citizens’ access to health facilities in the neighborhood.
Two normative acts were also changed. The change in the Ordinance on the terms and conditions for granting financial assistance for a newborn child in the Municipality of Montana is for an increase of BGN 100 in the assistance, which becomes BGN 400 for the first birth of a child and BGN 600 for the second. Adopted children are already included in the scope of the regulation. A requirement is specified for parents who have completed higher education that their newborn child has a registered permanent and current address in the territory of the Municipality of Montana and that at the time of submitting the application both parents have a current address in the Municipality of Montana, with at least one of the parents has a registered permanent and current address in the territory of the Municipality of Montana for not less than six months, counted from the date of submission of the application, and for the remaining time up to 3 years to present a certificate that he was a full-time student.
Here, too, the proposal of “Vazrazhdane”, that the aid for the birth of the first and second child be higher by BGN 100, if at least one of the parents has a higher education, was not approved. Dr. Lyudmil Dzurdjov spoke against this, stressing that a bonus based on educational qualification would be discrimination against parents with a lower level of education. The Chairman of the Municipal Council, Ivo Ivanov, stated that he will consult the idea with the Commission for Protection from Discrimination and then the proposal can be discussed again.
By its decision, the Municipal Council increased from BGN 2,000 to BGN 2,500 the amount granted for in vitro procedures on the basis of couples with reproductive problems from the municipality of Montana.
The creation of a new social service – Center for public support for 65 users and a staff of 13 people – was approved.
The Municipal Council will agree to the Municipality of Montana applying for a grant for the replacement of outdoor artificial lighting in Montana by energy consumers in the municipalities.
The councilors approved the proposal to designate a place to place a monument to Archpriest Yordan Popov. It will be installed in the garden of the church “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”. The monument is a donation of his grandson Prof. Nikolay Iliev and is the work of the sculptor Alexander Haitov.
