The mayor has visited 70 of the town’s establishments
“It is very important as a mayor to get to know the town´s establishments formally and informally. Talk to people, understand the activities and spirit,” says Mayor Valdimar Víðisson, who has achieved his goal to visit 70 of the town’s establishments since he took over as mayor at the beginning of the year.
On a trip around town to strengthen the town
Blikaás 1, a residential centre for people with disabilities, was the last of the seventy establishments that the mayor visited after he took over the reins at the beginning of the year. Valdimar Víðisson says that it is very important to get to know them formally and informally.
“The visits were very useful and interesting,” he says. “It’s important to be involved in issues and understand the activities of each establishment, then when they come up for discussion I know what is being talked about – I’ve been there.”
Valdimar says the visits have confirmed what he knew. “I am pleased to see that there are strong and good employees everywhere. Everyone is unanimous in working well for the municipality. It was fun to get to know what I hadn’t experienced before. I was very well received everywhere.” he says. The town´s establishments are truly diverse.
Visited up to four establishments in one day
Valdimar visited a maximum of four establishments in one day but spread them over the last ten weeks. “I started the visits by chatting with the directors and then walked around the workplace and chatted with staff and service recipients when appropriate,” he says. It is known that Valdimar was previously the principal of Öldutúnsskóli before he took over as mayor. He also visited all the town´s schools.
“It was fun to see how the schools are given the freedom to set their own policies. They are not bound by the same things and are very different,” he says.
Plans for more open meetings with the townspeople
Valdimar places great emphasis on being in communication with residents and staff. “Indeed, I want to be well connected with the townspeople.” He writes columns on Workplace twice a month for employees and reports on the status of various projects on his Facebook page.
“As the days become longer, I’m going to be available for both guests and pedestrians in one of the glass houses at Thorsplan, for a couple of days, so that anyone who wants to can stop by and have a chat,” he says.
“I also have fixed chat hours on Tuesdays. Always full. Very positive. I think it’s important to be in good contact with people because I work both with and for the people of Hafnarfjörður.”
