AWARDS FOR VALENCIA DAY, 9TH OCTOBER.
The Town Council has agreed to award the prestigious "Jaume Pastor I Fluix" for 2010 to the Dutch University Inholland. The Rotterdam based University has been visiting Calpe for more than a decade. The first project was a summer school for 11 students. This has now grown into more than a dozen courses and modules in one academic year. Over the past ten years more than a thousand students have attended the courses. The other awards announced were the Cultural Award to the MARQ museum archaeological project on the Ifach.
Sports award to the Jiu-Jitsu Champion, Yoland Sanchez.
Award for contribution to Tourism to the Puerto Blanco Restaurant.
Citizen of merit awar to Francisca Escriba, owner of the Jewellery Shop "Garcia".
The Youth award is in its second year and will be awarded to Hector Garcia, now based in Japan creating websites of world renown.
THE RULING PARTIES APPROVE CHANGES TO THE STAFFING IN THE TOWN HALLAt the August Town Council meeting, the Mayor, Ximo Tur, the Partido Popular Councillors and the Social Democrat Councillor, approved a modification of the staffing in the Town Hall, with the aim of saving the Town some money. The changes were as follows: - 13 positions that were not occupied were cancelled. - 68 Town Hall employees will have their salaries regularised. This means that whereas before they have been receiving a salary plus bonuses, their salary will be increased to the level of their bonuses. - Four employees who have been employed as temporary workers are to be made Civil Servants. - Three Civil Servants have had their salaries increased to the level according to their qualifications. This includes the new Secretary (Town Clerk) who will receive 53,000€ a year. The PSOE socialist opposition spokesman Luis Serna said the decision was “unjust and arbitrary”. He said that the 13 places cancelled had not been occupied so that could not be called a saving. Continuing, he said that the Mayors decisions on whose salaries were regularised showed favouritism. The Councillor for finance, Pepé Perles, justified the increases as political decisions. When the Town’s Auditor was asked if their would be any actual savings made by implementation of the new changes in salaries, he was unable to say yes or no. The Socialists also questioned the legality of turning temporary workers into Civil Servants, and they hoped they had the qualifications that were necessary for the posts.
The Town budget will be ready in 40 days.
At the monthly Town Council meeting, and after repeated requests from Nicolay Perez of the Socialists, Fernando Penella, (Councillor for Finance) said the municipal treasury recovery plan will be ready within 30 to 40 days.
Nicolay Perez, the opposition Councillor for Finance, said that the “motion of censor” which ousted them from their seats took place because the opposition of the time said that they had waited too long for the budget.
Councillor Penella said that his department was working on the issue and that an economic-financial plan will be ready for October. Councillor Penella said he would appreciate the constructive comments of the opposition Councillors when the budget has been drawn up.
GRANTS TO LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS AND CLUBS TO BE CUT
The ruling parties have decided to cut the yearly grants given to the local clubs & associations by 40 to 50%. A fund of 317,000€ will be used for distributing amongst the various sporting bodies, Fiesta, Social and Cultural Associations. The opposition parties agreed with the cuts but asked that the money to be shared out in a fair and balanced way.
Nicolay Perez, for the Socialists, asked that the conditions for applying for a grant should be written clearly so that the Associations know what they need to present.
The Councillor for Finance, Fernando Penella, said it would be at the discretion of the Councillor responsible for that Association to decide how much money they should get.
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