The citizens of Dobrich had no possibility to participate directly in the Municipal Council sessions. According to the Statutes of the Municipal Council activity, only by preposition of the council member and after voting, citizens could make a statement on a given subject from the agenda at the time of its discussion. There was no given opportunity for citizens to make suggestions or ask questions on matters of public importance, which disabled them to exercise their right to participate actively in the local self-government.

At its session on August 20, 2002, the Municipal Council of Dobrich resolved: after finishing the work agenda of the day, the floor to be given to up to three citizens, each one of who would take up to five minutes to make comments, suggestions or pose questions on matters of public importance. It is sufficient for the citizen to make a written statement of his/her will to participate shortly before the beginning of the session and pose it at the Municipal Secretariate. The application should include the citizen s name and address. The order of participation is decided by the order of application, without any other interference. Such practice has never been established before in the work of any other Municipal Council throughout the country. Its realization became possible after decision of the Municipal Council, which lead to amendments in the Statutes of the Dobrich Municipal Council activity. In order to accomplish this, the members of the Municipal Council worked on the project in the different commissions. In this way, the project initiators managed to overcome the existing conservative attitudes and apprehensions that unconscientious citizens might use the given opportunity to pose personal problems or unreasonably offend the Municipal Council or the Municipal Administration.

Amendment of the Statutes of organization and activity of Dobrich Municipal Council

The Municipal Council of town of Dobrich resolved:

RESOLUTION 47-2

Dobrich Municipal Council, based on CHL. 21, AL.3 from ZMSMA, changes article 24 of the Statutes of organization and activity of Dobrich Municipal Council as follows:

1. The existing text in article 24, being - Persons, who are not members of the municipal council, could attend sessions of the Municipal Council, taking the seats, pointed by the Chairmen of the Municipal Council. During the sessions, they should not disturb the working process in any way whatsoever. becomes article 24, paragraph 1.

2. Paragraphs 2 and 3 are added to article 24, being:

(2) The persons considered in paragraph 1 are allowed to participate at the end of each session regarding ONLY matters of public importance.

(3) Maximum of three citizens is allowed to participate in the frames of one session. Each citizen is given up to five minutes to make a statement. The order of the participants is determined by the order of applying at the Municipal Secretariat the same day before the beginning of each session.

The results of the practices proved positive, since the pessimistic misgivings for citizens who would abuse their right and pose problems of personal character or insult the Municipal Council and Municipal Administration turned out unreasonable. Up to the moment, average of two citizens participates at the end of each session. Over 80% of the participants discuss problems of public significance and make appropriate suggestions for their solving.