Chisinau Council fails to adopt new heat tariff a day before deadline

The Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC) failed to adopt Friday a new heating tariff for the running heating season. On November 21, the deadline to establish a new tariff expires, after it was agreed on in a memo signed on November 12 with Termocom and Moldovagaz, Info-Prim Neo reports. The issue was not on the order of the day. The CMC majority accuses the mayor of not having a draft decision, as Dorin Chirtoaca says he does. The mayor referred to the draft signed by Termocom's manager, Dionisie Antocel and presented to the CMC last September. Termocom asks for a tariff of 842 lei per one Gcal. Yet the bill is not signed by Dorin Chirtoaca. The general mayor stands against that amount, favoring 540 lei per 1 Gcal. CMC chairman Eduard Musuc has accused Dorin Chirtoaca of “trying to shirk from his responsibility under Dionisie Antocel's signature.” The same opinion has been uttered by PLDM faction leader Alexandru Tanase, who said “the mayor shirks from his duties.” According to Liberal leader Mihai Ghimpu, the mentioned accusations are groundless and it was the PCRM, PPCD, PSD and chairman Eduard Musuc, who assumed their responsibility for raising the tariff when they voted for the memorandum. The memo signed on November 12 by the three sides and approved by the CMC the same day. It provides for the CMC to adopt a charge of 740 lei per Gcal till November 21. As no final decision has been adopted, a number of councilors have asked mayor Dorin Chirtoaca to put up a bill till November 21, and Eduard Musuc to convene a CMC sitting.