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Dispute over town hall opening times: Citizen-friendly solutions required!
Treuenbrietzen Town Hall: Dispute over new office hours before mayoral election. Financial restrictions and digitalization in focus.
Dispute over town hall opening times: Citizen-friendly solutions required!
A discussion about office hours in the town hall of Treuenbrietzen is currently causing a stir among citizens and local politicians. As Maz-Online reports, the new proposals from the “Alliance for Towns and Villages” (BSD) group have led to a renewal of the public offer. Group leader Mike Fetzer is calling for more citizen-friendly office hours, especially in view of the upcoming mayoral elections.
At the moment, the town hall's opening hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Thursday to 3 p.m.). However, it is possible to make appointments outside of these times, for example on Fridays at 5 p.m. Nevertheless, additional office hours on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. to accommodate visitors to the weekly market could be a welcome option.
Challenges of digitalization
However, the mayor of Treuenbrietzen, Michael Knape, raises financial concerns that could make it more difficult to extend opening hours. Around 45 employees work in the town hall, many of them part-time. Citizens' office manager Christian Gronemeier-Pohl also warns that longer opening hours could extend the processing times for concerns. This reality is reflected in many offices in Germany, where long waiting times and complicated application procedures lead to frustration among citizens, as the website kommunal.de points out.
The discussion about a more modern and digitalized administration is also a central topic. Digital services could enable more citizen-friendly administration and thus facilitate access to information and services. For example, well-designed homepages should provide citizens with information that can be accessed on mobile devices. Comprehensible forms and the ability to submit applications digitally are essential to improve citizen service and reduce administrative effort.
The historical context of the town hall
The Treuenbrietzen town hall is more than just an administrative building; it is an important part of the cityscape and symbolizes local administration. This historic building has a long history dating back to the times of Ancient Greece. The name “Rat-Haus” indicates its function as a meeting place for council members and thus reflects the tradition of local self-government. Such town halls, which were often built in the neo-Renaissance style in the 19th century, are indispensable building blocks of urban identity.
The upcoming meeting of the main committee on September 17th could bring clarity about future opening times and digital offerings in the town hall. It remains to be seen whether citizens' concerns will be heard and whether the proposed changes will have the desired effects. The dialogue between citizens, politics and administration will therefore continue to be important in order to ensure a socially just and citizen-oriented administration.