Background

On the occasion of 12 October the Day of the Bulgarian Municipality, for a second time in a consequence, the Municipality of Silistra opened its doors for all citizens who wish to know more closely the nature of the municipal administration work.. Guests are invited to observe the technical procedures in delivering municipal services, to ask questions and make recommendations for optimizing the activities. In 2001 the focus was laid on the work of the Citizen Services Center, which has been in operation for already one year now.

Practice

Citizens were welcomed by the Mayor of Silistra and his team. Each of the quests was acquainted with the structure and functions of the municipal administration, the work of the separate directories, the local computer network, the services offered and the way of operation of the Citizen Services Center. Citizens are provided the opportunity to work as municipal officials. The complete document flow is observed regarding a submitted request from registering it at the Documents department to issuing the requested document or written response.

Students from the eleventh grade of the mathematical school St. Kliment Ohridski , language school Peio Yavorov and first year students from the Silistra branch of the Rousse University Angel Kanchev visited the Municipal Open Day. The up-to-date topics discussed with the young people were related to their professional realization, the possibilities offered by the city, their participation in different municipal projects, environmental activities and the protection of the biosphere reserve Sreburna .

Results

Public understanding was attained in the following areas:
- Citizens start to better realize the complexity of the problems with which the municipal administration is faced;
- Citizens realize that taking a decision on a certain issue may prove more difficult;
- Citizens obtain a general idea about the time devoted to each file.
- Local authorities are not alone in taking decisions on the solution of certain issues;
- The contribution and ideas of a large number of people are utilized. - Tolerance and understanding is are created in the delivery of citizen services.