My last town council meeting as mayor
Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir sat her final council meeting as mayor on Wednesday. An employment contract with a new mayor was signed at the meeting. Rósa was thanked for her good work and for her excellent communication, and was wished every success as she heads to parliament.
The mayor will change at the turn of the year.
„It has been a unique experience to be the mayor of the municipality where I grew up and have lived my entire life,“ said Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir in her closing remarks at her final council meeting as Mayor of Hafnarfjörður. „A unique experience, and I have put my heart and soul into the role.“
The meeting was held this week, on Wednesday, 18th December. A new employment contract was signed with the next mayor, Valdimar Vísison. He will take up the post as stipulated in the majority's agreement at the start of the term of office. He will take up the post on 1st January.
A pleasant and good time
„This has been an exceptionally enjoyable and good time. These six and a half years have passed very quickly,“ said Rósa in her speech. „It has been incredibly varied and enjoyable. I have relished tackling the unexpected things that often arise at short notice. I am full of gratitude for having been trusted with this role for 6 and a half years and look forward to the future.“
Outgoing mayor thanks the outgoing one
Valdimar Vísisson, the incoming mayor, thanked Rósa on behalf of the Framsókn party for her good leadership and strong work.
„Her mark is on the town and it is well-regarded. When you walk around the town, people often mention the importance of maintaining what Rósa achieved; the town centre, the appearance, and of course, that strong and sound financial management,“ said Valdimar.
„A more trustworthy person is hard to find,“ he said, thanking her for the good collaboration. „There's a colleague who has your back and continues to do so.“ He believes she will quickly become a leading figure in a new field, as is to be expected. „Thank you very much for your excellent work.“
Councillors Margrét Vala Marteinsdóttir, Valdimar Víðisson, Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir and Kristinn Andersen at Rósa's last meeting as mayor.
Rósa, mayor for 6.5 years, declines severance pay
Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir has served on the town council for 18 years and has been the leader of the Independence Party for a decade. She has now been elected as a Member of Parliament for the South West constituency.
„I am very much looking forward to the role and will, of course, do my best for the country, just as I have done here in Hafnarfjörður,“ she said.
Rósa will remain a councillor and take over as chair of the town council. „But because of these new roles in Parliament, I have not decided when I will step down from my position as a councillor. That will have to be revealed and after we have reviewed the matters in our local party group,“ Rósa explained.
„I hereby announce that I have decided to waive my right to a severance payment,“ she also said, thanking the town council, her colleagues at the meeting, and all staff for their cooperation and time together.
„… and everything we have been through together. I am proud of what we have achieved in recent years, and it has succeeded because we are a united team. Good cohesion and cooperation among all the councillors,“ she said. It is a great blessing for the borough that it is not a case of one hand washing the other every day. „We work towards a solution. That benefits the borough and its residents.“
She wished the next mayor all the best and good luck. „Good luck and may God be with you in your work, Valdimar,“ she said. „My heartfelt thanks.“
The town's appearance changed with Rosa
Councillor Kristín Thoroddsen, a fellow party member of Rósa's, thanked her for her part in making the municipality „as wonderful as it has become with this fun and positive spirit that we have managed to create. It is not least thanks to the mayor that it has succeeded so well,“ she said.
„I know she has been watching over the town day and night,“ she said, wishing her well in her new role. „You will be sorely missed.“ She also wished the next mayor well.
Pleasant dealings with the minority
Árni Rúnar Þorvaldsson also thanked Rósa on behalf of the Social Democratic Party's representatives. „The fact is that there is disagreement and people do not always agree on the fundamental issues, nor on the implementation of individual matters.“ However, the aim of everyone was the same: to make a good town even better.
„I personally thank the mayor for the pleasant and good communication during the time I have served on the town council, and I thank him on behalf of us in the Social Democratic Party. I wish him every success in his new role in the Althingi,“ he said.
Jón Ingi Hákonarson, a representative of Viðreisn, also spoke and thanked Rósa for the good cooperation. „The communication has always been good. We have always been able to talk to each other and that is invaluable, and I thank you for that,“ he said.
„I wish you well in your new role at the Althingi and welcome Valdimar Víðisson, the new mayor, to his post. I hope our relationship will continue to be so good. It's good to have a go at Rósa. It's often fun, even though we don't always agree. I hope we continue to tackle issues, disagree and work our way to a conclusion,“ he said.