Η Special Accountability Session The Kythira City Council meeting held yesterday, Thursday, September 5, 2024, was quite heated and covered a wide range of issues affecting the island, focusing on infrastructure issues, especially around the water supply and the sewer system. The meeting was particularly revealing, as allegations were made that Illegal water distribution by the Municipality of Kythira, during the same period when there was water supply problem in certain communities. At the same time, the following raised concerns: sudden interruption of the video recording of the meeting which occurred immediately after the complaint of «theft» of water.

But let's take a closer look:

Once again, they were absent from a City Council meeting, the Mayor of Kythira, Mr. Charhalakis, and the majority of the ruling coalition’s members. The two deputy mayors were present Panagiotis Zantiotis and Georgios Stratigos, as well as the city council member John Casimatis. The latter two participated in the meeting via teleconference (Zoom). In short, the only member of the municipal majority present in the meeting room was Mr. Zantiotis…

The deputy mayor in charge, Mr. Zantiotis, took it upon himself to respond to all the issues that were raised. The discussion was dominated by issues concerning frequent breakdowns in the water supply network. Mr. Zantiotis emphasized that Since the beginning of the year, more than 350 malfunctions have been repaired, but he admitted that the water supply network is old and needs to be modernized. There was strong criticism from city council members regarding the Insufficient staffing of the water supply department, as well as for the lack of preventive measures to avoid problems.

Particular emphasis was placed on water supply problems in communities on the island, with the opposition accusing the administration of mismanagement and lack of coordination, (especially in Agia Pelagia, Frilingianika, Aroniadika, Aloizianika, Kastrisianika, and Xeroniamata). The municipal authorities cited technical problems, while assuring residents that efforts are underway to repair the damage immediately.

Another issue was the Management and maintenance of desalination plants, raising questions about the operating costs and the management model for desalination plants. The response was that efforts are being made to reduce costs through possible solutions, such as the use of renewable energy sources to support the plants. The city council agreed that more steps need to be taken to conserve energy, while the discussion on the cost and sustainability of desalination will continue.

Overall, the meeting concluded with specific issues related to local initiatives, such as the need to improve parking facilities in Potamos and finding solutions to the numerous problems with the water supply network. However, several questions remained unanswered and are expected to be revisited in future meetings.

Just before the end of the meeting «It was a bombshell» in connection with the complaint for «theft» of water from the Municipality of Kythira. As mentioned, there is illegal use of municipal water by private water tankers, which fill up from municipal wells and then resell the water to private individuals. This practice has raised serious concerns among residents, as water is a valuable and limited natural resource, particularly during the summer months when demand for water is high due to tourism.

Mr. Maravegias, community president Frilgianikon, He specifically asked Mr. Zantiotis: «I have a question: Are the wells being overused? Do the tanker trucks that fill up with water from the wells and sell it privately pay the municipality for the water they take? I mean… I call a tanker to fill up the pool at my house; it goes to the Diakofto well, fills up the tanker, and brings it to me. It costs 150, 200, 300 euros—I don’t know how… Does the driver pay the municipality for that?».

Mr. Zantiotis replied: «I don't know if that's possible. Do you know if that's possible?».

Maravegias: «Private parties? That’s been going on all summer.».

Zantiotis: «So what’s going on? Come on, tell me.»

«Theft» responds by intervening Mr. Souris. Mr. Maravegias insisted: “They fill the tanks and sell the water.”.

Zantiotis: «Where from?».

Maravegias: «From everywhere!»

At this point, Deputy Mayor Mr. Stratigos, speaking remotely (via Zoom), asked to speak and took the floor: «I know there's a private one—at least one of them does this work—and I know it has a private well; I can't speak for everyone...».

Then The video recording of the meeting was suddenly interrupted (It is not known whether there was also another record of the meeting’s proceedings, as required by the regulations)!!! This is evident from the video uploaded to the official YouTube channel of the Municipality of Kythira, from which one can see the «end» of the meeting, and while the discussion on the matter continued… There is no record of the chair declaring the meeting adjourned.

But let's see how the discussion continued:

Immediately after Mr. General Mr. [Name] intervened. Souris and clarified: «We're not talking about what's legal; we're talking about what's illegal; we're talking about pirates.».

The president of the City Council seemed not to understand the issue, so Mr. Souris reiterated, saying: «There are private individuals who take water from the Kythira Municipality’s well and sell it to households. They get the water from the Municipality. Does the municipality collect payment for this? If they don’t pay, it’s theft. If they do pay, then that settles the matter.».

Mr. Zantiotis replied how He doesn't know that this is happening. Immediately afterward, the council president, Mr. Kapsalis, also stated that he was unaware of the matter in question.

It is striking that, although the deputy mayors, as well as the municipal and local council members, expressed their views on the matter, No one requested an investigation into the allegations of theft and illegal water transport. That's why it will be interesting to see What steps will the Mayor of Kythira and the political parties take in this regard?.

The Kythera.News has record the meeting and, of course, the the controversial discussion and the events that followed (We will provide an updated report on the issue that has arisen regarding the case involving the Local Property Commission). The recording is public by nature, in public space and regardless of whether the session has ended (since its conclusion was never declared), we consider it our duty to report on events that are taking place and concern the public sphere.

In a public space, and especially in the City Council chamber, No one can prohibit recording or claim that the «conversation is not being recorded.». If the elected officials have any objections to this, let them seek the opinion of the Decentralized Administration of Attica, and we are here to hear it along with them.

In closing, we will raise the following question: Some questions for each political faction, each elected, and we hope these questions will be answered so that our readers can be better informed about the what is happening within the municipal administration, as well as in the handling of the water supply issue:

Because in the City Council chamber, during the special session Didn't the secretary in charge attend as required?; Usually, when the secretary is unable to attend, notice is given, and another municipal employee steps in to fill the role so that there is no interruption in the meeting proceedings.
Who took the draft minutes as they should have been taken?;
How and who is responsible for recording and videotaping the meeting for the minutes; Why isn't the person recording the meetings in the room?;
How and from who is being conducted the teleconference service (using Zoom technology). Why isn't he in the room?;
There is circumvention of the Municipal Council's rules of procedure?; Does the municipal leadership accept the concealment topics, such as the one raised by the City Council Member Andreas Mariatos, both in writing to the Chair of the Board of Directors, then to the full Board, and verbally and publicly on the «sidelines» of the meeting? (given that the recording of the meeting was interrupted without its conclusion having been officially declared? We are referring to the issue concerning the Local Property Committee, which, as we know, was removed from the agenda, and we will, of course, return to it.).
What steps do they intend to take to investigate the complaint regarding «illegal water diversion—theft»?» in order to safeguard and protect the the public interest and public health;

In conclusion, based on the above, The municipality is going through a serious administrative crisis.

Why is the mayor constantly absent from the meetings of the highest legislative body?;

In summary, the latest meeting highlights the problems associated with the management of common goods, such as water, and the need for transparency and accountability in their use. The municipal council is facing these challenges, and in our view, it appears to be moving in the wrong direction. Kythera.News is here to document what is happening, but also to contribute, from its institutional position, to the smooth and uninterrupted flow of information and citizen participation.

Whatever happens gets posted here.

P.S.:

Please find attached the Circular: 98 (Ref. No.: 8182/26.01.2024) from the Ministry of the Interior regarding the operation of the Municipal Council, so that the relevant officials may be better informed.

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Photos of the participants taken on the sidelines of the meeting