Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Hospital


Following the events surrounding Hospital Sant Joan Baptista of Sitges, I will reproduce the announcement that I made today acting as Mayor of Sitges and President of the Hospital.

The Hospital San Joan Baptista of Sitges begins a new era. The resignation of part of the Municipal Supervisors during the Municipal House held on Monday March 25 and the Tuesday celebration on the Board of Trustees, that reaffirmed the cessation of the current manager and a Municipal Supervisor, represents the beginning of a new period in one of the institutions more appreciated by the people of Sitges.

As Mayor of Sitges and President of the Private Foundation of Hospital Sant Joan Baptista, it's my duty to report the events that led the City Hall to forgo the renovation of supervisors and the non-supervisory secretary that ended their term on 30 March, and that brought about the rest of resignations.

With the start of this term in June 2011 and, after the resignation of former manager, Roland Sierra, for personal reasons, the City Hall of Sitges and the Parish, as institutional representatives, started to work to find out all the details about the operation of Hospital Sant Joan in all its aspects, focusing specially inherited property and senior care. Things have not been easy in this respect. During the past year relations have been marked by a climate of distrust and lack of agreement, including disloyalty towards institutional supervisors, that along with me are positions held by councilors Vinyet Lluis, Marc Martinez and the rector of the Parish, Father Josep Pausas.

We found that the way of doing things was not of our liking, since they showed lack of transparency when accessing accounts, apart from the fact that we found asset sales to family members of board representatives. We will not question if such transactions were made illegally, but I honestly think, and have said so publicly, that occupying a position on the board of the foundation is not compatible with the sale of an asset to a family member.

During the last year we also learned that the Department of Justice of the Generalitat de Catalunya required the Hospital de Sant Joan to furnish information about asset sales between 2009 and 2011, on which no authorization was requested to the supervising body in charge of ensuring the responsible management of inherited assets.

The breaking point that stressed the lack of loyalty of Municipal Supervisors towards the City Hall and the Parish Council came late last year, when they had to renew part of the articles of association to suit the new legislation. Without consulting the City Council, Municipal Supervisors proposed an amendment that left the Municipal House without power of decision on the renewal of its members, or the suppression of the vice-presidency or the vote of the Rector of the Parish, among others. We must remember that the Hospital is a property of the City of Sitges, and if there is any institution that represents the town that is the Municipal House. I could not allow the Hospital de Sant Joan to become a foundation without any type of control by the democratic representatives of Sitges.

As the highest democratic authority of the Government of Sitges, we can't allow any lack of transparency in an institution like the Hospital, an organization with centuries of history. We adopted this decision as guardians of the institution as soon as we detected gross

irregularities. Citizens are entitled to know how and what is done with all the inherited assets that belong to all of us.

Just during the board meeting of Tuesday I promoted the approval of an audit of all procedures both in equity and welfare. The lack of transparency is over. Clarity and transparency.

We went through an institutional crisis that affected the dynamics of the board. Now, the Foundation of the Hospital de Sant Joan will begin a new era that will witness the selection of a new administrator, a position occupied by Antoni Baqués until past Tuesday, apart from the renovation of Municipal Supervisors. As an answer to the aforementioned situation, I want to deliver a message of serenity, since the incident does not affect the daily life of the hospital, senior home and senior care will continue their normal operation, with existing managements and professional team.

Until the appointment of the new administration I myself as Mayor of Sitges and President of the Hospital will assume all the administrative functions of the institution.

Friday, March 15, 2013

The vitality of Sitges: three new festivals in three weeks


Is there is any other town in Catalonia capable of releasing three new festivals in just three weeks? Probably not, not even Barcelona is capable of such a feat, and we are dealing here with a city having the reputation of attracting world class events. Sitges will add three new festivals to their calendar: Creative Connections, Festival Catalunya - Amèrica and Jazz Antic Sitges. And the three will be released today, Friday 15 March and next 5 April.
Vitality, our seduction capacity and the opportunities generated by Sitges are our best allies, and the tools that we can exhibit to insure greater assurance and confidence. Just today, our town will host another festival that receives the unanimous approval, thanks to the good results generated and its high economic impact: the International Festival of Patchwork. For four days, participants at the festival, practically from every European country, will contribute actively to create movement and dynamism and, for this reason, the City Council is totally committed to insure its survival in Sitges.

Also, about one hundred Irish artists and cultural agents will arrive today to participate in the first edition of the Creative Connections Festival. It is an initiative of the Irish Council of Arts with the active involvement of several institutions and organizations from Sitges. They have created an interesting, varied and interactive program of events, including concerts, poetry reading, debates, exhibitions, audiovisual shows and cultural routes, among other proposals. Creative Connections allows artists to exchange ideas and experiences and show them to the public. And Sitges, as a cultural flagship, is the setting and the lab for such an attractive meeting.

Next Sunday we will close the first edition of the Catalan-Irish festival, but five days later we will inaugurate another first edition, this time the Catalan-American meeting. The Festival Catalunya - Amèricas, promoted by Joventuts Musicals, also supported by different organizations including the City Council, includes music, literature and art during Easter Week. The festival is thus a quality offer for visitors who come to Sitges during the Passover, and at the same time, it allows to preserve a part of our collective legacy: the journey of many of our ancestors to the Americas in search of opportunities.

Just after Easter, we will greet a new festival: the Jazz Antic Sitges Festival, a classic jazz festival promoted by the Department of Culture, led by Mireia Rossell and the valuable contribution of experts and music professionals. The JAS represents a continuation of vintage jazz festivals, which during the early 70’s transformed our town in an international jazz center. The three days of this new cultural event will publicize our relationship with the world of jazz, and will constitute a proud showcase for our musicians to our visitors at the same times that it will strengthen our cultural programming.

Sitges is alive and kicking, its seduction capacity and charm are intact. I am fully aware of the statement above, that's why it's a priority to promote, collaborate and work in tandem with all positive initiatives such as festivals.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Tax cuts


The City Hall of Sitges will cut the garbage fees by 50% during the fiscal year of 2014. This current year the fee is at 140 Euros, next year the fee will be at 70 Euros. Cuts will also include capital gains taxes that will go down by 45% in 2014. Our compromise is firm and there's no going back. We made it public this week, a sign that shows our commitment and trust in the results obtained thanks to hard work.

And why? The reasons are also clear. When we assumed power 20 months ago, the city's finances were in a sorry state. The previous years of bad management left the City Hall in a state of anomie, totally incapable of launching new projects, carry out investments or maintain the same tax levels. Therefore, we were forced to raise property tax (IBI) and allocate part of the revenue to cover the disproportionate deficit that we inherited.

It is necessary to explain that the current municipal government inherited a financial mess, but it is also true that such inheritance cannot be used as a permanent excuse. Therefore, the results of these first two years of government will allow us to reduce our financial pressure and cut our tax burden.

The decision is the result of the rigorous budgetary and financial management implemented by our government. The work carried out by Councilor for Finance, Jordi Mas, is absolutely meticulous, rigorous and effective. All government departments have implemented the aforementioned management model.  A demonstration that good work leads to good results. Such results will allow us to cut garbage collection fees by half this year, very good news for all residents of Sitges. Along the same lines, we will also cut Property Tax (IBI), and we will do it after discussing the budget for 2014. Working together with organizations and civil society should allow us to agree measures to ensure a reduction of this tax.

A growth policy for Sitges is possible only if we are able to arrange and initiate the stabilization of municipal finances. We're on the right track!