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Trenčín City Statutes

  

                                              TRENČÍN CITY STATUTES

                                                        ( full text )

 

Approved by the  City Council in Trenčín, on September 9, 1999 in its Resolution No. 91

Amended Statutes of the City Of Trenčín as approved by the City Council in Trenčín in its Resolution No. 70 of April 30, 2002.

Amended Statutes of the City Of Trenčín as approved by the City Council in Trenčín in its Resolution No. 1 of January 3, 2003

Amended Statutes of the City Of Trenčín as approved by the City Council in Trenčín in its Resolution No. 133 of October 2, 2003

Amended Statutes of the City Of Trenčín as approved by the City Council in Trenčín in its Resolution No. 202 of December 18, 2003

Amended Statutes of the City Of Trenčín as approved by the City Council in Trenčín in its Resolution No. 489 of February 24, 2005

 

City Council of Trenčín on the basis of  Head IV of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic and Sect. 24, par. 1, letter c/ of the SNR Act No. 369/1900 Coll. on public establishment as amended, building on the European Charter of Local Govenment declared by the Council of Europe on October 15, 1995,

 

                                                            approves

                                              TRENČÍN CITY STATUTES

 

                                                          Preamble

The City of Trenčín with her famous history of a free royal town, birthplace and home to known persons, place of cultural, political, and social life of Slovakia, important centre of commerce, industry, transport, tourism, education, and sports, is a townwith significant current and future role of a regional townand the centre of the Trenčín region.
Building on traditions and legacy of their fathers, and mindful of the prosperity of the generations to come, the inhabitants of Trenčín, through their voted representatives, agree on this statute. 

 

                                                          PART ONE
                                            INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

 

                                                           Article 1

1. Statute of the City of Trenčín shall regulate, in accordance with general binding policies, mainly the status and powers of the City, rights and responsibilities of its citizens, fundamental policies of management and funding, administration and handling of the property of the City, as well as status and powers of the City Council, Mayor, and other organs of local municipal government, their internal structure, division of work among these organs, forms and methods of work, as it also addresses the City's broader relations, granting honorary citizenships, city awards and Mayor's awards.

2. Statute of the City of Trenčín shall constitute fundamental, normative, legal, and organisation policies of the City.



                                                           Article 2
                                          Status of the City of Trenčín

1. Pursuant to special legal provisions, the City of Trenčín shall maintain the status of administrative seat of Trenčín region. 1)

2. City of Trenčín shall constitute a separate and administrative unit of local municipal government of the Slovak Republic, gathering together people who permanently reside on its territory.  Territory of the City of Trenčín and its separate parts comprise a set of the following cadaster areas: 
Biskupice, Istebník, Kubrá, Kubrica, Opatová, Orechové, Záblatie, Zlatovce, Hanzlíková, Trenčín. Any changes to the territory of Trenčín may be carried out only in compliance with special legal regulations.

3. City if Trenčín shall be a  legal person with independent management of its own property and revenues under conditions stipulated by law, generally binding provisions of the city, and its organisation policies.

4. City of Trenčín may administer and handle property in the ownership of the State that have been entrusted into its use under effective legislation.

5.  City of Trenčín may administer and handle property of other subjects, i.e. natural and legal persons, provided that its has been empowered to do so by legal regulation or agreement.

6. City of Trenčín shall enjoy the right to its own symbols.

7. City of Trenčín in its execution of local governance may be assigned duties and restrictions only by law and by international treaty. 1a)

 

                                                        Article 3
                                 Citizens, their rights and responsibilities

1. Inhabitant of the town(citizen) shall be a person with permanent residence on the territory therein. 2)

2. Citizens shall participate on governance of the city, mainly through carrying out their rights and responsibilities. 3)

3. The City shall be liable to its citizens by law and other generally binding regulations.

4. Those with the right to partake on the City's governance shall include persons who:

a) are in possession of immovable property on the territory of the City, or pay a local tax or local fee to the City,
b) are registered in the Town as temporary residents 2) or long-term residents, 2a)
c) are in possession of honorary citizenship of the City

Such persons; however, shall not have the right to vote local government institutions and be voted into these institutions; neither shall they have right to vote on important matters regarding the City's life and development (local referendum).  4)

5. The City must provide to its citizens all indispensable and urgent relief in case of the citizens acute want caused by a cataclysm, accident, or other such event, especially provide for the citizen's shelter, food, or other necessary material assistance.

 

                                                        Article 4
                                             Municipal government

1. The City alone shall decide and carry out all activities pertaining to administration of municipal affairs and property, and all such matters of municipal nature that are assigned to the City by appropriate law 5) unless such activities are executed by the State or another legal or natural person.

2. Governance of the City shall be carried out by its citizens, through:
a) municipal authorities,
b) vote of citizens,
c) public meeting of citizens.

3. The City shall cooperate with political parties and movements, associations of citizens, and other local legal and natural persons on development of the town.

4. The City may, in the matters of territorial administration, issue decisions; such decisions must not be contrary to the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, constitutional legislation, and international treaties agreed upon by the National Council of the Slovak Republic, and those, which have been ratified and declared a way regulated by the law. Matters in which the City plays the role of the State administration body shall be decided upon only through power vested to it by and within the law. Such decision must not be contrary to the Constitution of the Slovak  Republic, constitutional legislation, and international treaties ratified and agreed upon a in way regulated by the law, as well as to the Government Acts and regulations, generally binding policies of the Ministries, and other central administration authorities.

5. The City must carry out its self-governance under the Slovak National Council Act  No. 369/1990 Coll. on public establishment as amended - mainly in Section 4, par. 3, other pertinent legislation, and generally binding legal regulations.

 

                                                  PART TWO
                                           MUNICIPAL PROPERTY

 

                                                   Article 5

1. Municipal property shall comprise things owned by the City together with municipal ownership rights. Municipal property and their handling shall be regulated by pertinent law. 6)

2. The City may entrust its property into the administration of those subjects that the City founded or established, as well as other subjects. Scope of handling and administration of  such property must be addressed and regulated in founder's deeds or articles of association, or agreements.

3. Municipal property shall be used mainly:
a) for public purposes,
b) for carrying out business,
c) for executing local municipal governance.
Donation of immovable property of the City shall by no means be acceptable, unless special provisions state otherwise.

4. Municipal property designated for public purposes /especially local roads and other public places/ shall be accessible to the public and may be typically used, if such use is not restricted by the City.

5. Municipal property may serve as a material basis  for non-profit municipal activities - at establishing foundations, funds, etc.

6. Municipal records and balance sheets are administered by the Municipal Office in Trenčín, in compliance with valid legislation.

7. The City shall represent itself in property relations and shall hold itself liable thereof, unless special regulations state otherwise.

8. The City must keep records of its property in compliance with valid legislation.

 

                                                 Article 6

1. The City, its institutions, subjects sharing the City's property, and subjects administering the City's property, must carry out administration of municipal property and State-owned property, as well as property owned by natural or legal persons, entrusted to the, City with the aim to promote development of the City and its citizens, and contribute to environmental protection and creation.

2. Municipal authorities, subjects sharing the City's property, and subjects administering the City's property must multiply, protect, evaluate, and preserve the property of the City in its non-diminished state. They shall be required especially to:
a) maintain and use property,
b) protect property against damage, destruction, loss, or abuse,
c) use all legal measures to protect property, including claiming their rights or legitimate interests in a timely manner before pertinent authorities,
d) keep records of property under valid regulations 

3. The Mayor shall act on behalf of the City in property-related matters.

 

                                                  Article 7

1. Municipal Council shall establish, dissolve, and control budgetary and contributory organisations, as well as other legal persons sharing the City's property.

2. The City shall establish or create under valid legal regulations legal persons sharing the City's property. The City must, at the same time, make sure that such subjects perform also activities related to local governance, and that the activities of these subjects contribute to the development of the City in all areas. 

 

                                                  Article 8

Fees for using the City's property may be collected in accordance with valid legal regulation.

 

                                                  Article 9

Details relating to municipal asset management and handling shall be regulated by "Policies of Municipal Property Management and Handling for the City of Trenčín", approved by the City Council.

 

                                                 PART THREE
                                  MUNICIPAL FUNDING AND BUDGET

 

                                                 Article 10

1. The City shall financially provide for its needs using its own resources, government subsidies, and other sources.

2. The City may fund its activities also from funds shared with other municipalities, regions, or other legal or natural persons. The City may provide for funding its own needs from profits, or yields of individual subjects in the city, or from those with whom the City shares property or other property. To carry out its activities, the City may use returnable funding sources as well as sources of non-budgetary monetary funds.  The City may, in order to carry out its activites, establish non-budgetary monetary fonds. To carry out the activities of more municipalities or from any other reason, municipalities may establish a common fund; municipalities that have established the fund shall appoint the Fund Board to administer this fund, following agreed rules.                               

3. The City may receive a govenment subsidy to carry out the City's development programme or other activities within the State's scope of interest. Use of government subsidies may be subject to investigation of state authorities following special regulations. In case the City falls short of its own resources to carry out its municipal activities, it may be given a government subsidy.

4. Municipal budget shall be the basis of municipal management of funds; the budget shall be made for the period of one calendar year and approved by the City Council in Trenčín as a generally binding policy. The City Council shall also approve changes to the budget, control its spending, and approve the City's closing balance.

5. Before its approval, the municipal budget shall be announced for the period of at least 15 days on an official notice board so that the citizens can comment on it; the same shall apply to the closing municipal balance, as well as the proposal to call for voluntary offering.  7)

6. Municipal budget shall include revenues and expenses that express financial relations with the State, legal persons, and natural persons - people carrying out their business on the City's territory, as well as citizens living in the City, determined by law and other generally binding legal regulations and generally binding policies. The budget shall further regulate financial relations to budgetary institutions and contributory organisations established by the City, as well as relations to other legal persons founded by the City. Special regulation shall provide specific definition of revenues and expenses. 7b)

7. In order to provide for contingency funding in common interest, the City may decide to introduce public benefit (contribution, fee, material releaf), call for voluntary offering, or accept credit or loan.

a) citizens shall vote on the introduction of public benefit,
b) City Council, following the proposal of the Mayor, shall decide on call for voluntary offering, aquiring credit or loan

8. Surplus balance in the municipal budget may be transferred to the municipal non-budgetary fund or carried over into the next year’s municipal budget.

9. The City shall keep records of its property under special provisions. 7a)

10. Status of the municipal budget, its creation and contents, principles of budget management, creation and use of non-budgetary source, ways of financial settlement between municipalities, relations to the State budget, and relations to the regional budget, shall are regulated by  special law. 7b) 

11. Outcomes of munucipal management, including outcomes of monetary funds management, are contained in the closing municipal balance approved by the City Council.

12. The annual balance sheet shall be audited by auditor. 8) Auditor shall audit also other matters under a special law. 7b)

13. Provided that the municipal budget is not approved before the first of January of the budgeting year, budgetary control between January 1 and the date of the budget's approval by the City Council shall be carried out through provisory budget.

14. Budgeted revenues and expenditures implemented during the provisory budget period shall be accounted for in the municipal budget after its approval in the City Council.

 

                                             Article 11

More detailed regulation regarding the management of municipal funds may be found in Policies for Handling of Municipal Funds of the City of Trenčín.

 

                                            PART FOUR
                                       MUNICIPAL BODIES

 

                                            Article 12
                                Fundamental Provisions

1. Municipal bodies shall constitute:
a) City Council,
b) City Mayor.

2. The City Council in Trenčín may establish and dissolve, based on need, permanent or temporary executive, control, and consulting bodies, mainly:
a) City Board,
b) commissions of City Council,
c) Municipal Police.

3. The Ministry shall determine the scope of work of these established bodies.

4. The role of chief auditor shall enjoy a unique status; the auditor shall be voted and removed by the City Council for the period of six years. The chief auditor shall be employee of the City and shall enjoy all rights and responsibilities of other senior employees, under special regulation. 9)

5. The City shall establish and remove also other commissions and formations in compliance with valid legal regulations. 10)

 

                                           Article 13
                                         City Council

1. The City Council in Trenčín (hereinafter referred to as City Council) shall mean a group of city representatives, composed of members of parliament elected through direct public vote. Voting into the City Council shall be regulated by special legal provision. 10a)

2. Number of City council members voted in for the full term shall be determined by the City Council, taking into consideration the constituency and regulated by special provision. 10b)

3. Term of the City Council shall cease by taking a vote of the members of the newly-elected City Council for the period of four years.

 

                                           Article 14
                              Responsibilities of City Council

1. City Council shall decide on fundamental issues regarding the life in the town and shall exercise its designated powers. 11)

2. City Council shall especially:
a) determine policies for management and handling of the City's property, state property in its use, and the property of other legal and physical persons temporarily assigned to be managed by the City; approve the most important activities relating to such property, and control its handling.


b) approve the municipal budget and its changes, control its spending, and approve the closing municipal balance; approve the issuance of municipal bonds, approve contract concluded under special provisions 11a) decide on acceptance of credit or loan, on taking surety for granting non-refundable financial assistance from the State budget,


c) approve territorial plan of the City or its parts and development strategies of individual aspects of municipal life,


d) decide on imposition or cancellation of local tax or local fee under special regulations, unless it is decided that such decision shall be determined by the vote of the citizens, 12)


e) determine the specifics of local tax or local fee and public benefit, and decide on taking a loan or credit,


f) announce public ballot regarding the most important issues in the City's life and development, and call open meetings of citizens,


g) take vote on municipal Resolutions,


h) approve agreements on international cooperation and the City's membership in international associations,


i) determine the organisation of the Municipal Office and the salary of both, the Mayor and the chief auditor,


j) approve remuneration schedule of the City officers developed under special provisions 13) , as well as other provisions (agenda of meetings, etc.),


k) establish, annul , and control budgetary and other organisations in the City, and, on the basis of the  Mayor's proposal, nominate and remove their heads (directors), establish and dissolve businesses and other legal persons, and approve City representatives into their statutory and controlling organs, as well as approve the City's share on the property of a legal person,


l) establish and annul authorities needed to carry out municipal governance and determine their scope of work,


m) grant honorary citizenship, municipal recognitions and awards,


n) set up the municipal coat of arms, municipal seal, or, possibly, municipal jingle,


o) approve contractual real estate ownership assignments,


p) approve the sale of movable property beyond value designated by individual municipal norms,

r) create the office of chief auditor and determine its scope of employment contract,

s) decide on establishment of committees in city districts and on defining their rights,

t) approve the status of the City.

3. Manual of the City Council meetings shall include principles of City Council deliberations, mainly preparation and contents of deliberations, preparation of material and documents for the meetings, decision-taking strategies and strategies for the adoption of generally binding municipal policies, municipal resolutions, system of checking the resolutions' implementation, and ensure that municipal responsibilities are fulfilled.

 

                                          Article 15
                                          City Mayor

1. City Mayor shall represent the highest executive body of the City. The Mayor shall be elected by the citizens through a direct vote. Type of voting shall be regulated by special provisions.

2. City Mayor shall be the statutory representative of the City for property and legal relations, and for labour relations among the City officers; whereas for administrative legal relations the Mayor shall be the administrative authority. 14)

3. City Mayor shall execute legal actions in all matters stipulated by law. 14) Other persons, including the Deputy Mayor and a councillor fully released to hold an office for a long term as empowered, as well as empowered City officers within the scope of their granted powers, may perform legal actions in place of the Mayor in property, labour, and administrative legal matters.  

4. City Mayor shall especially:
a) call and preside the meeting the City Council and City Board, and undersign their resolutions,
b) execute activities of the local government dictated by law, as well as delegated responsabilities of the state administration,
c) act on behalf of the City - in dealing with government authorities, legal, and natural persons,
d) decide on all matters of municipal administration, unless they are reserved for the City Council by law or this Statute,
e) store the City's flag and municipal seal,
f) undersign generally binding municipal ordinances.

5. The Mayor may stop the execution of the City Council's resolution if he deems it unlawful or apparently inconvenient for the City, by not signing it whithin the deadline determined by special regulation. 15a)  The Mayor must inform the City Board of such decision to stop during the Board's meeting; however, he shall in no way be bound by the Board's subsequent resolution.  In case the execution of a City Council resolution has been stopped, City Council may affirm such resolution by a 3/5 margin of votes of all its councillors; if, however, the City Council does not affirm the aforesaid resolution within two months after its approval, the resolution is thus made ineffective. The Mayor may not stop the execution of such affirmed resolution.

 

                                          Article 16
                                      Deputy Mayor

1. The Mayor shall have one deputy, usually voted in for the whole term of office by the City Council from among the City Council members, following the Mayor's proposal. City Council may dismiss the Deputy Mayor at any time.

2. Deputy Mayor shall represent the City Mayor during the latter's absence or incapacity to execute his office.

3. Deputy Mayor shall be member of the City Board with a decisive vote.

4. Deputy Mayor shall execute the following scope of activities:
a) coordinate and unify activities amongst individual committees of the City Council and city district committees,


b) coordinate activities between the City Board and the Municipal Office,


c) provide for material, technical and spatial conditions so as to carry out activities of the City Council's members.


d) carry out the City Council's supervision over the activities of municipal budgeting and contributory organisations,


e) control dealing with and solution of proposals, stimuli, and comments from City Council committees and city district committees,


f)/ partake, together with the City Mayor and city officers, on the elaboration of development strategy of individual aspects of municipal life,


g) participate on investigations, audits, and conclusions of petitions and grievances carried out by municipal authorities,


h) represent the City in social, cultural, and, if needed, image-creating areas, following an agreement with the City Mayor.


i) call the City Council meeting whenever special provisions state so, unless such meeting is called by the Mayor, 15b)

j) execute legal actions in property, labour, and administrative relations in place of Mayor, on the basis of empowerment and within its scope.

5. During the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor shall:
a) call and preside over City Council and City Board meetings,


b) execute all activities that are not within the exclusive Mayor's power, on the basis of special written empowerment also beyond the scope of such activities, as long as it is not contrary to effective legal regulations.

 

                                              Article 16a
                   Councillor fully released to hold an office for a long term

1. City Council may, following the Mayor's proposal, create the position of councillor fully released to hold an office for a long term (hereinafter referred to only as released councillor).

2. Released councillor shall be elected by the City Council from among the City Council councillors, usually for the full term, and shall be member of the City Board.  

3. City Council may dismiss the released councillor at any time.

4. Released councillor shall perform tasks directly assigned to him by the resolution of Mayor or the City Council.

5. Released councillor shall execute legal actions in property, labour, and administrative relations in place of Mayor, on the basis of empowerment and within its scope.

6. Released councillor shall not hold the position of City Officer; and execution of his office shall make him eligible to receive salary from the City.

 

                                           Article 17
                                      Chief City Auditor

The Chief auditor shall be City Officer and shall enjoy all rights and responsibilities of other senior officers, under special regulation. 9)

2. Function of the Chief Auditor shall in no way be coupled or connected with the position of:
a) City Council member,
b) Mayor,
c) member of a legal person's body established or founded by the City,
d) other City Officer,
e) persons under special legislation. 16)

3. The Chief Auditor shall mainly:

a) carry out the audit of:

aa) legitimacy, effectiveness, economy and efficiency in management and handling of property and property rights of the City, as well as of property used by the City under special regulations,

ab) revenues, expenditures, and financial operations of the City,

ac) dealing with complaints and petitions,

ad) compliance with generally binding legal documents, including generally binding ordinances of the City,

ae) fulfillment of the City Council's resolutions,

af) compliance with internal policies of the City, and audit of compliance with other requirements under special provisions,

b) submit to the City Council every six months a draft of planned audit activities that must be posted on the public notice board at least 15 days prior to its deliberation in the City Council,

c) elaborate professional position statements to the draft of the budget and on the closing balance before its approval in the City Council,

d) submit report on audit outcomes directly to the City Council on its upcoming meeting,

e) submit to the City Council an audit report at least once per year, within 60 days following the end of the calendar year,

f) cooperate with the state authorities on matters of audit in handling the means assigned to the City from the state budget or structural funds of the European Uion,

g) process complaints if special regulations state so,

h) be required to carry out audit, if asked by the City Council.

4. In carrying out activities under  par. 3 of this article, the Chief Auditor shall closely cooperate with the Municipal Office.

5. The Chief Auditor shall be elected and removed by the City Council for the period of six years.

6. The Chief Auditor shall be entitled to view accounts, income statements and cash flows, handling of the City's property, and shall further view all documents important by virtue of his title.

7. Chief Auditor shall participate in meetings of the City Council and City Board as a member with advisory vote.

 

                                           Article 17a

                                  Office of Chief Auditor

1. The City shall set up and consequently supervise the Office of Chief Auditor; the Chief Auditor himself shall be responsible for its activities.

2. Office of Chief Auditor shall provide for professional, administrative, and organisational matters relating to the Chief Auditor's responsibilities. 

3. Organisational structure of the Office shall be designated by the City Council as part of the Municipal Office organisation code.

 

                                          Article 18
                                         City Board

1. City Board shall comprise members of the City Council so that the leaders of committees set up by the City Council are at the same time members of the City Board. Members of the City Board shall include also the Deputy Mayor and the released councillor, provided that the office of the latter has been created by the City Council. Number of the Board's members shall not exceed one third of the City Council's membership. City Board members shall be elected by the City Council for the full term. City Council may, at any time, dismiss the City Board or any of its members.  Composition of the City Board shall acknowledge representation of political parties in the City Council.

2. City Board shall be the initiating, executive, and controlling body of the City Council, and shall meanwhile perform the function of advisory body to the Mayor.

3. City Board shall meet as needed; however, no less than once per month. Meetings of the City Board shall be presided by the Mayor, or in his absence by Deputy Mayor. 

4. City Board shall especially:

a) outline and ensure performance of tasks under City Council resolutions,

b) address committee initiatives, initiatives of the councillors and individual departments and units of Municipal Office,

c) involve itself in drafting the municipal budget,

d) deal with all common matters relating to the property of the City, funds and municipal budget, local taxes and fees, and shall comment on them to the City Council of Mayor,

e) prepare City Council meetings and submit before it its own proposals/bills,

f) organise and unify activities of the City Council committees and shall create condition for their work; it shall ensure and control deliberation and solution of proposals, initiatives, and comments,

g) deal with matters relating to the City and common life, and shall submit its position statements to the City Council and the Mayor.

h) fulfil other tasks as decided on by the City Council.

City Board shall be competent to deliberate provided there is more than a half of its members present. A consent of more than a half of all the Board's members is needed before the resolution is to be approved.

6. Principles of deliberation and decision of the City Board may be found in detail in the Agenda of Meetings approved by the City Council.  

 

                                         Article 19
                               City Council Committees

1. City Council shall establish Committees as permanent, temporary, advisory, initiative, and control bodies.

2. Committees shall comprise City Council members and other persons elected by City Council from among professionals.  

3. City Council shall elect Chair of the Committee, elected always from the City Council members, and Committee members. Meanwhile, City Council shall assign responsibilities to the Committees, determined by local conditions and needs. In the absence of the Chair of the Committee, the Committee shall elect one of the councillors to act in place of the Chair and within the Chair's title, save the membership in the City Board.

4. Chair of the Committee shall:
a) manage and organise activities of the Committee, call its meetings and preside over them, and, together with the Committee's trustee, prepare their agenda,
b) create a plan of the Committee's activities,
c) organise cooperation between the Committee and other committees of the City Council,
d) act on behalf of the Committee in public.

5. Chair of the Committee shall always be member of the City Council.

6. Trustee of the Committee shall undertake organisational and technical matters of committees; he himself shall not be the Committee’s member. The Chief City Officer shall designate a trustee for each of the Committees from among city officers. Trustee in the Committee shall have advisory vote.

7. Each Committee, within its specific responsibilities, shall especially:
a) produce position statements to documents deliberated by the City authorities, to the most important aspects of municipal life, and to investment initiatives deemed important by the City,

b) elaborate proposals and initiatives to address the most relevant aspects of municipal life, and shall submit them to local authorities who shall have a duty to deal with them and inform the Committee on the outcome,

c) control the way City Council and City Board resolutions are implemented, oversee the handling of the city property or the property entrusted to the City for temporary use, oversee business and investment activities in the town, and control dealing with complaints, petitions, or comments of citizens.

8. Committees shall meet as needed; however, no less than once per month.

9. Committees shall not have decision making powers.

10. Principles of deliberation and decision of the City Board may be found in the Agenda of Meetings of City Council Committees approved by the City Council.  

 

                                         Article 20
                                   City District Boards

1. City District Boards /hereinafter referred to only as CDB/ shall be established by the City, usually with their own cadastre area and, acknowledging the town’s inner division, with the aim to continue with carrying out municipal activities. Delineation of individual city districts may be found in Annex 1 of these Statutes.

2. CDBs shall represent citizens of a particular city district and share the City's governance.

3. City Council shall decide on establishing a CDB.

4. There are four CDBs established in the City:
a) NORTH
b) CENTRE
c) SOUTH
d) WEST

5. CDB members shall constitute all City Council members elected in a particular city district.

6. CDB shall be presided by the Chair - one of CDB members elected by the board.

7. Chair of the Board may, during his absence, be replaced by an empowered CDB member (empowered in writing), assuming all rights and responsibilities. 

8. Chair of CDB shall:
a) call, manage, and organise the CDB activities,
b) act on behalf of the CDB in public.

9. Main objective of the CDB is a common participation at solving important matters and its contact with the citizens of a particular city district.

10. A CDB shall mainly: 
a) participate in activities within the scope of the City Council, Mayor’s regulations, and City Board regulations,

b) comment on changes to names of streets and public areas within a particular city district, and propose their new names,

c) comment on the sale of City's property within a given district in compliance with generally binding and internal norms of the City,

d) comment on the lease of City's property within a given district in compliance with pertinent generally binding documents as regulated by the CDB’s Agenda of Meetings,

e) distribute funds, considering its own priorities, approved for individual CDBs in the expenditures part of the municipal budget for a given calendar year, designated to reimburse maintenance of streets, sidewalks, greenery, and playgrounds,

f) comment on changes to cadastre areas of a given district; comment on territorial zone plan within a given City district, and on a change to the district's name.

11. A CDB may:
a) ask for problems to be resolved, if such are within responsibilities of the Municipal Office, Municipal Police, and municipal organisations and other subjects that administer the City's property,


b) submit to the City Board and City Council initiatives and proposals,


c) initiate with the City Council a call for public meeting within a given City District in order to address important issues relating to a specific City District.

12. CDB shall cooperate with the Municipal Police on matters of public order and environmental protection.

13. CDB shall formulate its objectives in form of resolutions and positions.

14. CDB meetings shall be held as needed; however, no less than once per month. Notice of a meeting shall be announced by the CDB in its territory through a typical venue /on a particular notice board/ no later than 3 days before the meeting takes place.

15. CDB meetings shall be open to public.

16. Each CDB meeting shall produce the minutes of meeting.

17. CDB Trustee, designated by the Chief City Officer, shall undertake organisational and technical matters of the CDB.

18. Deputy Mayor shall coordinate and direct the activities of all CDBs.

19. The CDB Agenda of Meetings, approved by the City Council, shall regulate principles of deliberation and decision, along with other necessary matters. 

20. Local Committee Chairs of individual city districts shall constitute the CDB Committee. The Committee shall serve as an advisory body to the Mayor. CDB Committee meetings shall be called by the Mayor; however, no less than once per month.  

 

                                        Article 21
                                  Municipal Office

1. Municipal Office shall represent executive body of City Council and the Mayor, and shall comprise city officers.

2. Municipal Office shall carry out professional, administrative, and organisational works relating to fulfilment of municipal responsibilities, especially:
a) keep written agenda of all local government bodies, and serve as receiving and processing centre of municipal written documents,


b) prepare technical documentation and other written documents for submission to City Council meetings, meetings of City Board, and City Council committees,

c) prepare decision issued in administrative proceedings, in tax and fee proceedings,

d) execute municipal orders, City Council resolutions, and Mayor's decisions,

e) coordinate activities of public utilities on the territory of the City, subjects created and established by the City, as well as other subjects with direct legal relations to the City,

f) ensure organisational and technical implementation of state administration responsibilities transferred to the City,

3. Chief City Officer shall manage and organise the work of the Municipal Office.

4. Internal organisation of Municipal Office, especially its organisational structure, competencies of individual departments, their mutual relations, and responsibilities of city officers, are included in the Municipal Office Organisation Manual approved by the City Council.

5. Municipal Office shall not have legal autonomy.

 

                                    Article 22
                              Chief City Officer

1. The City shall establish the office of Chief City Office. Chief City Officer shall be a city officer nominated and removed by the Mayor.

2. Chief City Officer shall report to the Mayor.

3. Chief City Officer must have a graduate education.

4. Chief City Officer shall execute mainly the following tasks:
a) organise, manage, and control the work of Municipal Office,

b) ensure economic and administrative functioning of the Office,

c) together with the Mayor, undersigns minutes of meeting and resolutions from meetings of the City Council and City Board,

d) participate in City Board and City Council meetings as an advisory vote member.

5. Chief City Officer shall execute also other tasks assigned to him by the City Council and Mayor within the local government's jurisdiction.

 

                                     Article 23
                                 Municipal Police

1. Municipal Police has been established in the City in order to ensure public order, environmental protection, and implementation of other municipal tasks under laws and generally binding legal documents and tasks dictated by municipal orders, City Council resolutions, and policies and decisions of the Mayor.

2. Municipal Police shall be established and dissolved through a generally binding ordinance.

3. Municipal Police shall bear the name "City Police in Trenčín". 

4. Municipal Police shall be headed by the Police Chief, nominated for an indefinite term by the City Council upon acknowledgment of the Mayor's recommendation.

5. Municipal Police Chief shall report to the City Mayor.

6. Statute of Municipal Police shall render more detailed account of the Municipal Police organisation, its tasks and status, duties of the Chief and other employees, relations of Municipal Police to local government authorities, and its cooperation with other bodies.

 

                                          PART FIVE
                             PUBLIC VOTING OF CITIZENS

                                         

                                           Article 24

1. Public ballot regarding the most important issues in the City's life and development shall be called by the City Council.

2. City Council shall announce public voting of citizens in the following cases:

a) merging, division or dissolution of the city, as well as a change to the city's name,

b) petition of a group of citizens, numbering at least 30% of all eligible voters,

c) dismissal of the Mayor under special provisions 15c).

3. City Council may announce public voting of citizens also before deciding on other important matters of local governance 15d); voting of citizens on other matters shall not be allowed.

4. Results of public voting of citizens shall come into effect provided that at least a half of eligible voters vote 17), and provided that a decision has been adopted by more than a half of all valid votes of public voting participants. City Council shall announce the result of public voting of citizens on the public notice board within three days after a record on results of voting is received.

5. Conditions, form and style of taking public votes in the city may be regulated by a generally binding City ordinance.

 

                                      Article 25
                          Public meetings of citizens

1. City Council may call a public meeting of all citizens or those living in a particular district , or districts, with the aim to discuss matters of general interest.

2. Public meeting shall be called through an announcement on the municipal notice board, or on a local notice board in a given district.

3. Conditions of organising and holding public votes and conditions of voting may be addressed in more detail by a generally binding City ordinance.

 

                                       PART SIX
                        MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

 

                                       Article 26

1. Members of the City Council shall be elected through public voting of citizens for the term of four years. Voting policies are determined by special regulation 18) .

2. Members of City Council shall make sure that by all their activities they deserve trust of their constituents. They shall carry out their duties under having in mind a general well-being of the City and its inhabitants. By virtue of their office they shall further act in accordance with the Constitution of the Slovak Republic and other generally binding legal documents.

3. Office of the City Council member shall essentially be performed without stopping or terminating working relationship or relationship of a similar nature.  

4. A councillor must not, due to execution of his office, be limited on his rights and duties that apply to him by virtue of his work position or similar status.

5. Those City Council members who, due to execution of their office, are released from their workload, shall retain their work status. All councillors shall be entitled to remuneration for execution of their office.

 

                                       Article 27
                      Rights and Duties of Councillors

1. The Councillor shall be entitled especially to:

a) submit proposals/bills to City Council and other bodies,

b) interpellate the Mayor and members of the City Board on matters relating to the execution of their work,

c) request leading representatives of legal persons founded or established by the City, the Chief City Officer, and the Chief of City Police to provide clarifications on matters relating to their activities,

d) request information and clarifications from natural persons and legal persons carrying out business, on impacts of their business in town,

g) participate on investigations, audits, and conclusions of petitions and grievances carried out by municipal authorities,

f) request clarifications from state authorities on matters necessary for proper execution of the councillor's office,

2. The Councillor shall be required especially to: a) take an oath in the first meeting of the City Council they attend,

b) participate in meetings of the City Council and its bodies to which he has been appointed,

c) follow the City statutes, Agenda of Meetings of the City Council, as well sa other organisational norms and regulations,

d) keep and respect effective city regulations and to the best of his abilities and powers endorse and oversee their implementation,

e) defend interests of the City and the majority of its inhabitants.

3. Declining the oath or taking an oath on conditions shall mean annulment of the mandate. Mandate of councillor shall terminate also in the following cases:
a) resigning to office,

b) if the councillor has been lawfully sentenced for having committed a pre-mediated criminal act, or if he has been sentenced for having committed a criminal act provided that serving of sentence was not deferred.

c) if the councillor was dispossessed of legal competence or his legal competence has been limited,

d) if the councillor moves his domicile outside the town's territory,

e) if, within a period of one year, the councillor is incompetent to participate in City Council meetings,

f) terminating the City,

g) death,

h) completion of term period,

i) in case the office of councillor cannot be executed without being incongruous according to special provision, 18a)

j) if, without a serious reason and legitimate excuse, the councillor does not participate 3 consecutive times in the City Council meetings.

4. Mandate of the City Council member shall expire by resigning only if such resignation was entered verbally or in writing in the minutes of meeting; if such resignation is done in writing, its consequences take effect on its being delivered to the Municipal Office. Resigning to the mandate may not be recalled.

5. Councillors may form clubs of councillors by political affiliation in order to effectively carry out their mandate, strengthen political cooperation, exchange opinions, and support their initiatives.

 

                                             PART SEVEN
                             COOPERATION OF MUNICIPALITIES

 

                                              Article 28

1. City may cooperate with other municipalities:
a) on the basis of agreement concluded in order to carry out specific task or activity,
b) on the basis of agreement on creation of association of municipalities, or
c) through establishing or founding a legal person under special legislation. 19)

2. Cooperation between municipalities shall be based on principles of lawfulness, win-win approach, and compliance with the citizens' needs. Cooperating municipalities shall enjoy equal status.

3. Agreement concluded in order to carry out a specific task or activity shall be made for definite or indefinite period. Creation of a legal person may not be the scope of this agreement. The agreement must be in writing, otherwise it is invalid. For the agreement to become valid, a consent of more than a half of all City Council members of each municipality participating in the agreement shall be needed . Unless the agreement states otherwise, participants to the agreement shall be held liable together and indivisibly for any claims by third parties that may arise from the agreement to perform a specific task or activity.

4. The City may enter into association with other municipalities. 19a) Association shall be a legal person. Association shall acquire legal autonomy on the day of its registration by a registering authority.

5. Scope of activities of such association of the City with another municipality shall include especially the area of social affairs, environmental protection (especially collecting, disposal, and processing of municipal waste, discharge and treatment of waste water), local transportation, schools, culture, and local tourist industry; the association shall further, through its activities, assist in creating conditions for successful implementation of municipal responsibilities and responsibilities of higher territorial units.

6. For the agreement on founding an association to become valid, a consent of more than a half of all City Council members of each municipality participating in the agreement shall be needed . Agreement on founding an association shall include Articles of Association. 7. The Association shall be dissolved:
a) through a voluntary dissolution or merge with another association,
b) effective decision of a regional court on its dissolution.

8. The City may, within the scope of its activities, cooperate with territorial and adminsitrative units or authorities of other states performing local functions. It shall also have the right to become member of international association of territorial units or territorial bodies. Agreement or membership in an international association must not be contrary to the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, constitutional laws, and laws and international treaties to which the Slovak Republis is bound, neither must it be contrary to public interest.

 

                                              PART EIGHT
RELATIONS WITH GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES, LEGAL AND PHYSICAL PERSONS, WITH POLITICAL PARTIES AND MOVEMENTS, AND ASSOCIATIONS OF CITIZENS

 

                                                Article 29

1. The City, at carrying out its activities, shall cooperate with government authorities, especially with state administration bodies, specialised state administration authorities, legal and physical persons, Universities, research institutes and other government authorities /prosecution, courts, police, etc./, as well as regional governments.

2. In ensuring municipal development and benefits for the town, the City shall cooperate with businesses of legal and physical nature, political parties and movements, and associations of citizens that operate in its territory.

 

                                              PART NINE
            SYMBOLS OF CITY, HONORARY CITIZENSHIP, CITY AWARDS

 

                                             Article 30
                                          City Symbols

1. City symbols shall include:
a) municipal coat of arms,
b) municipal flag,
c) municipal seal, d) municipal jingle

2. The City shall determine in more detail the use of municipal symbols.

 

                                             Article 31
                                   Municipal Coat of Arms

1. Municipal coat of arms composed of a blue shield with silver lamb turned leftward and looking back, with golden hoofs, holding a golden staff with cross-like finial with red and white quarterly partitioned flag with cuts. Above its head is a six-point star on a golden ribbon coming out of its mouth. The silver and gold colours may be replaced with white and yellow. The coat of arms' length-to-width ratio is 8:7.

2. More detailed and final graphical representation of the municipal coat of arms is in Annex 2 of these Statutes.

3. White and red shall be the municipal colours.

4. Right to use and repeatedly use the municipal coat of arms shall be exercised upon the Mayor's consent. Mayor's consent shall be issued for the maximum period of 1 year.

5. Municipal coat of arms shall be used:
a) on the municipal imprint,

b) on Mayor's insignia,

c) in meeting and deliberating rooms of municipal authorities,

d) on buildings that serve as seats of municipal authorities, on the conference room of the City Council, and Mayor's representative room,

e) to delineate municipal territory,

f) on identification cards of the City Council members and City officers,

g) on uniforms of employees of the Municipal Police, voluntary municipal fire fighters, and municipal forests administration,

g) to label vehicles of the Municipal Police, voluntary municipal fire fighters, and municipal forests administration.

6. The physical or legal person that used or is using the municipal coat of arms shall be responsible for its proper handling. 

7. Everyone shall be required to comply with a request to take off a municipal coat of arms that has been used illegally or inappropriately.  

 

                                          Article 32
                                       Municipal Flag

1. Municipal flag is composed of a quarterly red and white base, with a red base portion located in the upper staff corner of the flag. The flag is of a swallowtail shape, with the cut reaching 1/3 of the flag's length inward, with the length-to-width ration of 3:2.

2. Final graphical representation of the municipal flag is in Annex 3 of these Statutes.

3. Municipal flag shall be used by the Mayor and City Council at celebrations and official events of municipal or government nature. Municipal flag shall also be put on a building that serves as a seat of municipal authorities, conference room of the City Council, and representative room of the City Mayor.

4. Municipal flag shall be erected on a flag pole.  Municipal flag shall be erected and lowered slowly and with dignity, when lowered it must not touch the ground.

5. The following principles must be followed when using and erecting the municipal flag:

a) municipal flag must not be damaged, dirty, and must not be tight and folded into a rose shape,

b) no text may be written on the municipal flag, no symbol, picture, emblem, badge, bouquet of flowers, grieveng veil, etc. 

6. If, together with the municipal flag, the national flag of the Slovak Republic is erected, both flags shall be located at the same height, side by side, while the national flag shall be located on the left, as seen from the front view. 20)

7. Municipal flag is the basis for the municipal banner. Municipal banner shall always be tightly attached to the pole or traverse pole; however, the set ratio of sides may not be followed. Annex 4 of these Statutes.

8. Types of banners:

a) municipal emblem banner  - a banner with projected coat of arms without the shield. Annex No. 5  of these Statutes.
b) short municipal banner - represented by a rectangular banner attached to the pole by its longer side,
c) standard in municipal colours - a vertical municipal banner attached to the shorter traverse pole
d) combined standard - represents a combination of standard and municipal emblem banner.

e / standard of the Mayor - represented by a blue square with the municipal coat of arms without the shield and a red-white border coming with its red part from the upper corner of the standard at the pole. Annex 6 of these Statutes.

9. The one who shall use or be using the municipal flag and municipal banner shall be responsible for their proper handling.

 

                                              Article 33
                                          Municipal Seal

1. Municipal Seal shall comprise the municipal coat of arms and a round text CITY OF TRENČÍN.

2. Municipal seal shall be used at ceremonies, such as conferring honorary citizenship of the city, sealing important deeds and documents, etc.

3. Municipal seal shall be stored with the City Mayor.

4. Final graphical representation of imprint of the municipal seal is in Annex 7 of these Statutes.  

 

                                             Article 33a
                                         Municipal Jingle

1. Municipal jingle is a music work composed by the composer Gejza Príbela in the year 1978 to commemorate the 1800th anniversary of the Roman inscription on the Trenčín rock massif.

2. Municipal jingle shall be used at ceremonies, such as city festivities, ceremonial meeting of the City Council, reception of important persons.

3. Annex 8 shows notation of the municipal jingle.  

 

                                          Article 34
               Honorary Citizenship, City Award, Mayor's Award

1. City Council may confer the following awards:
a) honorary citizenship of the City,
b) city award.

2. City Mayor may confer award - the Mayor's Award.

3. Records of conferred awards shall be kept by a designated section of the Municipal Office.

 

                                         Article 35
                       Honorary Citizenship of the City

1. Persons who have made outstanding contribution to the development and growth of the City, protection of its interests and spreading its good name in the world, or those who have enriched human knowledge through outstanding creative activities, may be awarded Honorary Citizenship of the City. Honorary citizenship may also be awarded "in memoriam".

2. City Council with a 3/5 margin of all its members shall decide on awarding honorary citizenship, usually on the recommendation of the Mayor.

3. Award of honorary citizenship is accompanied by a deed bearing the municipal seal and signed by the Mayor.  A deed may also be produced in two languages, the second language being the honoree's language.

4. Ceremonial conferral of the deed to the honoree shall usually take place at an exceptional City Council meeting.  The honoree shall at this time or on his first visit to the City enter his name in the Municipal Memory Book.

5. Details relating to awarding honorary citizenship shall be regulated by municipal generally binding ordinance.

 

                                        Article 36
                                       City Award

1. City Award shall be conferred to persons or groups for:
a) outstanding creative activities and significant results of scientific,  technical, artistic, publishing, and public endeavors,
b) activity significantly contributing to economic nd cultural development of the City, its national and interneational promotion,
c) rescuing human lives, municipal property, and citizens.

2. Recommendations for awards shall be submitted to the City Council by councillors, Mayor, or the citizens. Recommendations must be substantiated.

3. City Award shall be a plaque with the municipal coat of arms together with a financial or physical award by the City Council decision. Award shall be accompanied by an imprint of the municipal seal, undersigned by the Mayor.

4. Conferral of the City Award shall take place as a ceremony, at the City Council meeting. Honoree shall enter his name in the Municipal Memory Book.

5. Details relating to awarding the City Award shall be regulated by municipal generally binding ordinance.

 

                                          Article 37
                                 The Mayor's Award

1. Mayor of the City may acknowledge an activity of people significant for the City by conferring his award.  Through his award, the Mayor may thus support various activities organised in the City and put them under his auspices.

2. The Mayor's award shall be represented by a piece of art a sculpture.

3. Award shall be conferred by the Mayor at a ceremony.

4. Details relating to awarding the The Mayor's Award shall be regulated by municipal generally binding ordinance.

 

                                         Article 38
                                     City Chronicle

1. The City shall keep its Chronicle in the Slovak language.

2. Entries in the Chronicle shall document social, political, and economic developments in the City, and shall serve as immediate and trustworthy accounts of times and peolple who enrich the City's community. The Chronicle shall also contain accompanying documentation /photographs, documents, videomaterial, sound recordings, etc./.

3. Entries in the Chronicle shall be processed by a chronicler appointed by the City Mayor.

4. Individual City Districts may keep their district chronicle in compliance with paragraphs. 1 and 2 of this Article. Chronicler shall be appointed by the City Mayor.

 

                                       Article 39
                              Municipal Memory Book

1. Visits of important persons to the City ans various social events in the City shall be documented by the Municipal Memory Book.

2. Individual entries in the Memory Book shall be carried out by a particular organisational section at the Municipal Office.

 

                                         PART TEN
                       ASSISTANCE DURING EMERGENCIES

 

                                         Article 40
             Assistance to Citizens in the State of Emergency

1. The City shall provide to its citizens all indispensable and urgent relief in case of the citizen's acute want caused by a cataclysm, accident, or other such event, especially provide for the citizen's shelter, food, or other necessary material assistance.

2. The City shall organise, oversee, and carry out basic works in times of threatening natural disasters of local significance. Given a urgent need, the City shall require phycial and legal persons to perform general duties at protection against such events.

3. The City shall provide for evacuations, temporary shelter and food for the evacuated citizens; it shall, to the best of its abilities, ensure protection of the people's property, and lay plans for rescue activities.

4. The City shall participate in liquidation and elimination of disaster and accident aftermath through voluntary fire fighters cooperating with other legal and natural persons and government authorities.  

 

                                          Article 41
                     City's Rights in the State of Emergency

1. City Mayor may assign a legal or a physical person a duty to provide personal or material assistance in eliminating the aftermath of natural disaster or other emergencies, unless special law states otherwise.

2. City Mayor may impose a fine of up to 200 000 Sk to a legal or physical person carrying out business, if:
a) it breaks an ordinance,
b) does not keep cleanliness and order in the used area or facility and thus impacts the view or environment of the city, or if he litters a public open area or stores things in places other than designated,
c) does not perform his duty to provide for personnel or material assistance during elimination of aftermath of natural disaster or other emergencies assigned to him by the Mayor within a determined period, without providing a legitimate reason for not having done so.

A fine may be imposed within one year following the day when the Mayor learns of the one who has performed such conduct, however, not exceeding three years after an order was not followed, pursuant to this paragraph, letter c).    When imposing fines, the gravity of offense shall be considered, along with form, time, and consequences of the illegal activity. Imposition of fine shall be regulated by general policies on administrative proceedings. A fine shall be part of revenues of the City.

3. Legal or physical person who has provided personnel or material assistance shall have the right to be reimbursed for reasonably spent costs. Such right may be claimed within 3 months after such costs have been determined, not later than 2 years following their incurrence, otherwise the right shall become ineffective.

 

                                       PART ELEVEN
                        COMMON AND FINAL PROVISIONS

 

                                         Article 42

1. Statutes of the City shall be the fundamental legal norm of the City of Trenčín.

2. All generally binding documents of the City, as well as internal norms of the City must comply with these Statutes.

3. Changes and amendments to these Statutes shall be approved by teh City Council in Trenčín by a 3/5 margin of all present City Council members.

4. Statutes of the City of Trenčín have been approved by the City Council in Trenčín, on the 9th day of September, 1999.

5. Statutes of the City of Trenčín and their amendments and changes shall come into effect on the day of their approval by the City Council i Trenčín.

6. On the day of coming into effect of these Statutes of the City of Trenčín, the following shall be annulled: a) Statutes of the City of Trenčín approved by the City Council in Trenčín on the day of September 26, 1991 by Resolution No. 47 of May 28, 1992, which acknowledges all generally binding ordinances of the City being part of the Annexes to the Statutes, b) Organisation Code of the City Council in Trenčín approved by the City Council on January 30, 1991, c) Statutes of Committees of City District Boards approved by the City Council in Trenčín in its Resolution No. 60 of June 27, 1996.

7. Effective generally binding ordinance and other organisational policies of the City that are contrary to these Statutes should be reconciled to these Statutes within 1 year following the date of the Statutes' becoming effective.

 

In Trenčín, on February 24, 2005

 

Ing. Branislav Celler , v.r.

Mayor of the City