Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Welcome Letter to the New Citizens of the Municipality of
Gabrovo
Information and Municipal Services Center
Background
The Municipality of Gabrovo can be described as a friendly municipality, initiating a dialogue with citizens from the very moment of their settling down in the town. The publicity in the municipal administration work gives possibility for the democratization of the entire process. A huge step in this direction is the Information and Municipal Services Center established in May 1999.
In the beginning of 1999 all interested parties conclude that such Center is necessary both for the citizens and municipal administration, and prerequisites for its setting up are available. The main goals of the Center are: to improve the efficiency of services provided, eliminate corruption and enhance the dialogue between citizens and municipal administration.
The Municipality of Gabrovo can be described as a friendly municipality, initiating a dialogue with citizens from the very moment of their settling down in the town. The publicity in the municipal administration work gives possibility for the democratization of the entire process. A huge step in this direction is the Information and Municipal Services Center established in May 1999.
In the beginning of 1999 all interested parties conclude that such Center is necessary both for the citizens and municipal administration, and prerequisites for its setting up are available. The main goals of the Center are: to improve the efficiency of services provided, eliminate corruption and enhance the dialogue between citizens and municipal administration.
Practice
With the establishment of the Information Center emerges the idea of greeting every new citizen of the municipality, who has applied for permanent residence in the town. In this case the Mayor of the town sends a Welcome Letter to the new citizen, thanking them for choosing to settle in Gabrovo and wishing them prosperity and well-being, so that Gabrovo could mean everything that their home town is for them. The letter encloses a set of information brochures about the town, the work of the municipality and the services provided by the administration.
This practice aims to enhance the orientation and integration of the new citizens in the life of Gabrovo, since they will soon need to visit the Municipality and obtain the services of the municipal administration. In this way every new citizen realizes that they are not alone and are well received in the community.
Welcomed in this way, new citizens will gain further confidence and orientation by visiting the Information and Municipal Services Center. The center functions as a separate department of the Municipality. There are 10 work places in it, equipped with computers and other technology for providing fast and quality services. It provides 63 kinds of services - technical support, economic activities, civic status matters, healthcare, social services, housing needs and municipal property. A questionnaire is developed for collecting and processing citizens` opinions and ideas, thus providing a flexible way of meeting their needs and requirements and improving the work of the municipal administration.
The demonstrated desire for providing high quality, fast, effective and convenient services for the citizens, as well as creating conditions for transparency and reducing the possibilities for corruption helps to change in a positive way the community views about the work of the municipal administration. The aspirations for improving the Municipality image from closed management to a friendly and open institution has become a priority in the work of the Municipality of Gabrovo.
With the establishment of the Information Center emerges the idea of greeting every new citizen of the municipality, who has applied for permanent residence in the town. In this case the Mayor of the town sends a Welcome Letter to the new citizen, thanking them for choosing to settle in Gabrovo and wishing them prosperity and well-being, so that Gabrovo could mean everything that their home town is for them. The letter encloses a set of information brochures about the town, the work of the municipality and the services provided by the administration.
This practice aims to enhance the orientation and integration of the new citizens in the life of Gabrovo, since they will soon need to visit the Municipality and obtain the services of the municipal administration. In this way every new citizen realizes that they are not alone and are well received in the community.
Welcomed in this way, new citizens will gain further confidence and orientation by visiting the Information and Municipal Services Center. The center functions as a separate department of the Municipality. There are 10 work places in it, equipped with computers and other technology for providing fast and quality services. It provides 63 kinds of services - technical support, economic activities, civic status matters, healthcare, social services, housing needs and municipal property. A questionnaire is developed for collecting and processing citizens` opinions and ideas, thus providing a flexible way of meeting their needs and requirements and improving the work of the municipal administration.
The demonstrated desire for providing high quality, fast, effective and convenient services for the citizens, as well as creating conditions for transparency and reducing the possibilities for corruption helps to change in a positive way the community views about the work of the municipal administration. The aspirations for improving the Municipality image from closed management to a friendly and open institution has become a priority in the work of the Municipality of Gabrovo.
Results
From the beginning of July until the end of November 1999, a total of 94 Welcome Letters were sent to newly-registered citizens of the town. The positive results can be easily seen through the reactions of the citizens coming to the municipal administration. It is evident that the dialogue between citizens and administration has already begun. This is reflected also in the completed questionnaires, which include words of thanks and encouragement for working with the same spirit and enthusiasm. The strategic goal of the Information and Municipal Services Center is to convince the local community that the Municipality and citizens can be friends, and the result of this friendship will be a strong local self-government!
From the beginning of July until the end of November 1999, a total of 94 Welcome Letters were sent to newly-registered citizens of the town. The positive results can be easily seen through the reactions of the citizens coming to the municipal administration. It is evident that the dialogue between citizens and administration has already begun. This is reflected also in the completed questionnaires, which include words of thanks and encouragement for working with the same spirit and enthusiasm. The strategic goal of the Information and Municipal Services Center is to convince the local community that the Municipality and citizens can be friends, and the result of this friendship will be a strong local self-government!
[Nominate]
back