Stari Grad: All Municipal Services at Citizens' Disposal During Open Door Days

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - As announced at the beginning of this year by the municipal mayor, Mr. Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, the Stari Grad Municipality today launched a unique project to improve communication with citizens through „Open Door Days“.

This practice was introduced with the desire to facilitate certain procedures for citizens and provide necessary information and answers to all their inquiries in one place in the shortest possible time, and as announced today by the municipal mayor, it will be held twice a month.

„In this way, we enable citizens to solve their problems on the spot in conversation with my assistants. That is the job and duty of civil servants, to be at the disposal of citizens. In addition to the services being open to receive citizens, we also wanted to gather leading civil servants in one place who will answer questions for the next three hours,“ stated Mayor Hadžibajrić.

In the Great Hall of the Stari Grad Municipality, the mayor's assistants and heads of all municipal services were available to citizens, discussing various topics with them. In this way, and at a time more suitable for employed persons, direct and open communication between municipal services and citizens was achieved, providing insight into the status of cases in the shortest possible time, familiarizing citizens with the competencies, duties and obligations of local self-government, as well as other institutions, and promising action towards solving their problems.

In addition to the assistants and heads of services, the Open Door Day was attended by the municipal mayor, Mr. Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, as well as the secretary of the state service body, Mr. Alma Destanović, who also answered inquiries from citizens of Stari Grad. From 4:00 PM when the doors of the Great Municipal Hall opened, a large number of citizens began to arrive, and some did not hide their enthusiasm for this unique initiative. One of them was Delfa Kamhi.

„As soon as I heard about the "Open Door Day" I was very happy, because without many announcements and additional paperwork we can go to the person who can help and guide us. Really all congratulations to Mayor Hadžibajrić, who is known as an open and transparent person, and with this he proves it in yet another way and thank you for that,“ said Delfa.

For Emira Kasumagić from the Medresa local community, this is the best way for the Municipality to get closer to the citizens: „I commend the initiative, honestly I don't know if any public institution has ever done something similar. I came to ask the competent service to pay a little more attention to the cleanliness of some parts of the MZ Medresa,“ Emira stated.

Edin Ljubović from the Hrid-Jarčedoli local community also praised the new approach of the Stari Grad Municipality, and expressed hope that things will be implemented in practice on the ground itself.

„In my case, it is about certain changes to the regulatory plan, which did not work in my favor. I am here to try to solve the problem with the competent service to everyone's satisfaction,“.

The services that participated in the Open Door Day were: Cabinet Service, Urban Planning Service, Investment and Communal Affairs Service, Property-Legal, Geodetic Affairs, Cadastre and Housing Service, Veterans' and Social Protection Service, Economy Service, Education, Culture and Sports Service, General Administration and Inspection Service, Local Development and Local Community Affairs Service, Civil Protection Service, Finance Service, Public Relations and IS Service, Expert Service of the Municipal Council, and Technical Affairs and Security Sector.

The largest number of citizen inquiries were directed towards the services for urban planning, investments and communal affairs, inspection, and local development and local community affairs. For all citizens who could not be answered on the spot, responses will be sent in writing within 48 hours.

"Open Door Day" continues, and the next date will be announced to citizens in a timely manner.