The commune of Gotesti has expressed its willingness to voluntarily amalgamate with neighboring localities, but is currently included in a normative amalgamation formula with the city of Cantemir. The announcement was made by the communal councilor of Gotesti, Sergiu Botnari, during the public debate “The normative stage of the amalgamation process: how did we get here and what are the steps?”, organized by the IPN Press Agency. According to the local elected official, the normative reorganization formula must take into account the infrastructure, services and resources already existing in the community, as well as the opinion of the residents.
According to Sergiu Botnari, the Gotesti commune has tried to adapt to the necessity of the APL reform and to propose a formula for amalgamation with the neighboring localities.
“In May, the communal council made a decision in favor of voluntary amalgamation. We wanted to be visionaries, we are aware of the need for reform and we proposed this to the neighboring communes. Gotesti commune is located on the bank of the Prut, at the administrative border with Cahul district. We don’t really have an alternative. We are not in the middle of the district to have many villages around. We only have three neighboring localities. We proposed amalgamation to two of these localities to take advantage of the promised financial incentives”, explained the councilor from Gotesti commune, Cantemir district.
In this context, Sergiu Botnari criticizes the inclusion of Gotesti in the regulatory amalgamation with Cantemir, arguing that the city currently lacks sufficient services and resources to provide a better solution for the community.
“The situation is different in every village. Now, we are being amalgamated by regulation to Cantemir. Cantemir does not have the necessary experience, it does not have the necessary services and resources. Cantemir’s population is only 166 people larger than the Gotești commune. The Gotesti commune has a waste disposal service, it has gasification at 80%, it has three kindergartens, it has a fully renovated health center, it has pharmacies, ATMs, a medical assistance center”, the local elected official added.
Sergiu Botnari believes that the amalgamation process should strengthen communities that already have functional services and results, not imply an arbitrary administrative reorganization.
“In the entire process of normative amalgamation, there must be logic. We need to consolidate what already exists. To co-opt students, teachers, where performance already exists. And we are proposed to go to Cantemir. You cannot do the amalgamation from the pen, there needs to be a serious evaluation. The voice of the citizens must be taken into account”, Sergiu Botnari also said.
Disclaimer: This material was developed by the IPN Press Agency, within the project “Local Government Reform in Dialogue”, financed by the Ministry of Culture from the Media Subsidy Fund.
