The mayor has visited 70 of the town's facilities.
„As mayor, it is very important to get to know the workplaces, both formally and informally. Talking to people, understanding the atmosphere and the operations,“ says Mayor Valdimar Víðisson, who has achieved his goal and visited around 70 of the town's workplaces since taking office at the beginning of the year.
Travelling around the town to boost the town
Blikaás 1, a residential community for disabled people, was the last of around seventy sites the mayor visited after taking over the reins at the turn of the year. Valdimar Víðisson says it is very important to get to know the sites both formally and informally.
„The visits were very useful and interesting,“ he says. „It's important to be up to speed and understand the operations of each unit when they are discussed; that way I know what's being talked about – I've been on the ground.“
Valdimar says the visits have confirmed what he knew. „I am pleased to see that everywhere there is a strong and good staff. Everyone is united in their commitment to working well for the municipality. It was enjoyable to learn about things I hadn't been familiar with before. I received a warm welcome everywhere,“ he says. The workplaces, however, are certainly different.
Visited up to four on the same day
Valdimar has visited a maximum of four sites in one day, but spread them over the last ten weeks. „I started the visits by chatting with the managers, then walked around the site and spoke with staff and service users where appropriate,“ he says. Valdimar is known to have previously been the head teacher of Öldutúnsskóli before he took up the post of mayor. He visited all the schools.
„It was interesting to see the professional scope the schools are given to set their own policies. They are not bound by the same things and are different,“ he says.
Plans for more open meetings with residents
Valdimar places great emphasis on communicating with residents and staff. „Yes, I want to be in good contact.“ He writes posts on Workplace twice a month for staff and updates them on the status of various projects on his Facebook page.
„As the sun rises, I'm going to be in the other glasshouse at Thorsplan and take a few days so that anyone who wants to can pop in, both visitors and passers-by, and meet me,“ he says.
„I have these regular sessions on Tuesdays. They're always full. That's very positive. I think it's important to have a good relationship with people, because after all, I work both with and for the people of Hafnarfjörður.“