Town Council

General presentations

• 10101162 – National University Hospital, Hafnarfjörður (St. Joseph's Hospital-Sólvangur)

  Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason, the mayor, took the floor. Geir Jónsson took the floor. Then Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir, Gunnar Axel Axelsson, Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir, Eyjólfur Sæmundsson, Kristinn Andersen and Helga Ingólfsdóttir. Then, Mayor Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason spoke again and put forward the following motion on behalf of all the representatives on the City Council:$line$$line$Baernarfjörður City Council strongly protests the decision to close St. Joseph's Hospital in Baernarfjörður and demands that it be reconsidered and that the merger with LSH be reversed. The decision runs counter to the agreement that was promised and the assurances that were given, that St. Joseph's Hospital would continue to play an important role in providing local services to the residents of Hafnarfjörður. The Hafnarfjörður Town Council demands that the Minister for Social Affairs“ promise of consultation is honoured and that talks are immediately entered into between the Minister for Social Affairs and the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður on how to ensure the continuation of operations at St. Joseph's Hospital. In this regard, the town council reiterates its previous resolutions to take over the care services for the elderly, primary healthcare, and all general health services in the town. $line$$line$Explanatory Note$line$At the beginning of this year, the current Minister for Social Affairs announced his decision to merge the operations of St. Joseph's Hospital and the National University Hospital. The decision was announced following the presentation of joint findings from a project group composed of representatives from both hospitals. $line$The proposals of the project board provided for the general medicine ward to continue operating in the St. Joseph's Hospital premises in Hafnarfjörður, but that surgical activities, the orthopaedic department and gastroenterology services would be moved to the premises of Landspítali in Reykjavík. In a statement issued by the Minister of Welfare on the occasion of his decision on 31. January last, it was specifically emphasised that the decision was based on the aforementioned proposals.$line$ $line$ Or, in the project management team's proposal, it states:$line$“The general medicine ward will remain in the St. Joseph's Hospital building, focusing on patients who are not acutely ill but are either completing treatment, in rehabilitation, or awaiting further resources, both within Landspítali and outside it. In selected cases, it will be possible to accept patients from the health service and elderly care services in Hafnarfjörður and the surrounding area, but on the same terms and with the same safety requirements as for other patients."$line$$line$The decision by the management of LSH goes against these promises.$line$$line$$line$The City Council of Hafnarfjörður approved the proposed motion with 11 unanimous votes.

• SB040377 – Minutes of the Planning and Building Officer

  Minutes from the planning and building officer's disposal meetings were presented. 21.09.11 and 28.09.11. Item A was dealt with by the building control officer in accordance with the Building Regulations Act no. 160/2010. Submitted.

• 1109008 – Extended stay of disabled secondary school students

  Item 11 from the minutes of the BÆJH meeting of 6th October. A proposal from the Family Council of 21st September regarding a fee for extended supervision, which was referred to the Town Council. The Town Council proposes to the City Council: “The City Council of Hafnarfjörður approves that the fee for extended stay will be kr. 14,000 per month.“

  Gunnar Axel Axelsson spoke. The Hafnarfjörður Town Council approved the proposed motion with 11 unanimous votes.

• 1109349 – Strandgata 55, application for a plot extension

  Item 17 from the minutes of the Municipal Council meeting of 6 October. Johannes Viðar Bjarnason applies, on behalf of Fjörukráarinnar ehf, by letter dated 26 September 2011, regarding an extension of the plot at No. 55 Strandgata, in accordance with the attached plot plan.$line$ A report from the Planning and Building Department was presented.$line$ $line$Beyjarstjórn recommends to the town council:$line$“The Hafnarfjörður Town Council approves the allocation of an additional plot at 55 Strandgata to Fjörukráin ehf, in accordance with the available documentation, the report, and the detailed conditions of the Planning and Building Department.“

  Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir took the floor. Then Ólafur Ingi Tómasson. Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir intervened. Ólafur Ingi Tómasson replied to the intervention. Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir made a second intervention. Gunnar Axel Axelsson made an intervention regarding Ólafur Ingi Tómasson's previous speech. Ólafur Ingi Tómasson responded to the intervention. Gunnar Axel Axelsson made a second intervention. Ólafur Ingi Tómasson responded to the second intervention. Gunnar Axel Axelsson made a brief observation. Ólafur Ingi Tómasson made a brief observation. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson took the floor. Geir Jónsson made an intervention. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson responded to the intervention. Kristinn Andersen made an intervention on a previous speech by Eyjólfur Sæmundsson. Ólafur Ingi Tómasson made a response to the previous speech by Eyjólfur Sæmundsson. The Hafnarfjörður Town Council approved the proposed motion with 11 unanimous votes.

• 1101098 – Minutes 2011, for presentation to the town council.

  Minutes of the Planning and Building Committee from 4th October.$line$Minutes of the Family Council from 5th October.$line$a. Minutes of the Sports and Leisure Committee from 28 September. Minutes of the Environment and Operations Committee from 5 October. Minutes of the Education Committee from 3 October. a. Minutes of the Town Council from 6 October. b. Minutes of the Harbour Board from 4 October. c. Minutes of the Culture and Tourism Committee from 27 September.

  Kristinn Andersen spoke under item 9 – Loan refinancing – in the minutes of the town council meeting of 6 October. Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir spoke under item 10 – Lækjargata 2, Dvergslóðin, detailed plan – in the minutes of the Planning and Building Committee from 5 October. Helga Ingólfsdóttir responded. Then, Ólafur Ingi Tómasson spoke under item 1 – Plan for the Port of Hafnarfjörður 2012 – in the minutes of the Port Board. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson responded. Ólafur Ingi Tómasson replied to the response. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson responded for a second time. Kristinn Andersen made a point of order regarding the previous speech by Ólafur Ingi Tómasson. Sigurlaug Anna Jóhannsdóttir spoke under item 2 – Nursery school places, assessment of need – and item 7 – Prevention in the education department – in the minutes of the Education Committee from 3 October, and item 12 – Municipal Government Act, 726. item – in the minutes of the town council meeting of 6 October. Gudmundur Rúnar Árnason, the mayor, responded. Kristinn Andersen responded to the previous speech by Sigurlaug Anna Jóhannsdóttir. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir responded to the previous speech by Sigurlaug Anna Jóhannsdóttir. Gudmundur Rúnar Árnason, the Mayor, item 5 – Ásland 3, finalisation – items 9 and 12 from the Town Council meeting minutes of 6 October. Sigurlaug Anna Jóhannsdóttir replied. Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason responded to the reply. Kristinn Andersen replied to the previous speech by Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason. Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir spoke under item 12 of the council's minutes from 6 October and item 2 – Environmental Team, terms of reference – in the minutes of the Planning and Building Committee from 5. October last. Kristinn Andersen made the following statement on behalf of the representatives of the Independence Party: “The representatives of the Independence Party in the town council concur with the statement made by the party's representative on the town council on 6th. October, which proposes that work be commenced on creating a realistic plan for the Borough of Hafnarfjörður to meet its commitments and, at the same time, fulfil the municipality's obligations for statutory services to its residents.$line$$line$ The most qualified experts will be engaged as soon as possible to carry out a financial restructuring of the City of Hafnarfjörður's total liabilities and to begin work on renegotiating with creditors regarding the settlement of the municipality's debts. Such a settlement will include a comprehensive plan for the municipality's realistic solvency, both financially and legally, and it is important that creditors are not discriminated against in the process.In addition to a financial review, a legal review will be carried out by lawyers experienced in such extensive agreements, examining all the options available to the town for negotiating with its creditors.“ $line$$line$Kristinn Andersen (sign), Geir Jónsson (sign), Helga Ingólfsdóttir (sign)$line$Ólafur Ingi Tómasson (sign), Sigurlaug Anna Jóhannsdóttir (sign)$line$$line$Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir made the following motion on behalf of the representatives of the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-wing Greens:$line$“The motion by the representatives of the Independence Party speaks for itself. Once again they are making a motion on projects that are already underway and have been for a long time, instead of putting forward anything new and constructive. The projects to which this refers have been in progress for the past few months, both financially and legally. The City of Hafnarfjörður has been advised by the most competent specialists and lawyers. The repeated motions by the Independence Party do not serve the interests of the City of Hafnarfjörður, but rather undermine confidence in the municipality and cast unwarranted doubt on the work of the staff and the specialists who have worked with the City of Hafnarfjörður.“$line$$line$Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir (sign), Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason (sign), Margrét Gauja Magnúsdóttir (sign),$line$Gunnar Axel Axelsson (sign), Eyjólfur Sæmundsson (sign), Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir (sign)

• 0706404 – Presidential Commission, Code of Conduct for elected representatives.

  Item 13 from the minutes of the BÆJH meeting of 6th October. Review the current code of conduct. The town council refers the code of conduct to a previous discussion in the town council.

  The second vice-chair, Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir, took the chair. Margrét Gauja Magnúsdóttir spoke. Then Geir Jónsson. The chair took the chair again. Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason, the mayor, spoke. Then Kristinn Andersen. Guðmundur Rúnar Árnason, the Mayor, responded. The Hafnarfjörður Town Council approved, with 11 unanimous votes, to refer the matter to a second reading.

• 1006187 – Councils and committees 2010-2014, elections.

  The following proposal was put forward for the appointment to the Environment and Operations Committee: $line$ Alternate member: Lára Janusardóttir, Teigabyggð 8 in place of Helga Vala Gunnarsdóttir, Brekkuás 8.$line$$line$Lay down the following proposal for nomination to the Sports and Leisure Committee:$line$Main member: Helga Vala Gunnarsdóttir, Brekkuás 8, in place of Lára Janusardóttir, Teigabyggð 8.$line$$line$No further nominations were received, and the aforementioned are deemed duly elected to the relevant council and committee. The composition of the committees remains otherwise unchanged.