After several hours of deliberation, the council members of the Municipal Assembly (MA) of Tivat voted in favor of the “Annual Report on the Work of the Mayor and the Operations of Local Government Bodies and Services of the Municipality of Tivat for 2024,” presented by Mayor Željko Komennaović (People Wins).

This agenda point was notably affected by the initial inattention of opposition councilors, leading the president of the local parliament, Miljan Marković (New Serbian Democracy), to close the debate and call for a vote due to a lack of interest from council members during two rounds of discussion.

In response to the opposition’s protests, who felt that Marković sought to expedite the process without proper discussion, the debate was reopened despite his following procedural requirements and asking both the proponent’s representatives and councilors for their input, which went largely ignored.

Komenović himself insisted on the reopening, and Dubravka Nikčević, a councilor from the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), expressed gratitude on behalf of the opposition.

“It’s unfortunate that none from the ruling coalition chose to comment on their local government’s work for 2024. This might have motivated the mayor’s actions, for which I thank him,” Nikčević stated.

She criticized the report for not sufficiently addressing tourism, a key economic driver for Tivat, commending the contribution of a graphic designer in enhancing communication between the local administration and the public. Additionally, she questioned why certain management roles remained vacant and why there wasn’t more interest from candidates.

Nikčević advocated for urgently reviving the activities of the largest Tivat Local Community (MZ) “Tivat Center,” suggesting it be divided into smaller, more efficient communities, and requested the local council to recommence the naming of streets, which have been left either unnamed or labeled numerically.

Liberal Party (LP) councilor Vatroslav Belan pointed to the recent resignation of last year’s Vice President of the Municipality, Andrija Petković (Bokeški Forum), and noted that the second Vice President, Jovan Brinić (Krtoljaka List), had recently announced his resignation but later retracted it.

Belan argued this reflects political instability and divisions within the ruling coalition in Tivat and criticized the slow progress on investment projects, such as the promenade in Belani, as well as the lack of action on commitments made earlier regarding the city’s boulevard development.

Adrijan Vuksanović (Croatian Civic Initiative – HGI) suggested that more focus should have been placed on issues affecting minority communities, particularly the Croatian community, which resolved a major concern last year regarding the status of the Cultural Center in Donja Lastva.

This facility was reassigned to Croatia by the Government of Montenegro.

“It’s worth noting that Tivat is the only city in Montenegro where, in line with legal provisions supporting minority rights, the Croatian flag is flown alongside the state flag on the Municipality building during the Day of the Croatian People in Montenegro, January 13,” Vuksanović added.

Igor Petković (Social Democrats, SD) urged the local administration to promptly address inadequate road access and parking issues at Tivat Airport, primarily caused by ongoing construction of the Jaz-Tivat boulevard overseen by the Montenegrin Traffic Administration.

“Currently, buses struggle to approach the terminal, and the airport parking facilities are not adequately functional. The tourist season has begun, with a significant increase in flights and passengers, making it crucial to resolve this alarming issue urgently, even though the Municipality does not hold complete jurisdiction over it,” stated Petković.

In response, Komenović explained that this, along with other issues like the new municipal marina in Seljanovo and yacht anchorage in the Bay of Tivat, stemmed from the Maritime Administration’s failure to announce tenders for temporary facilities, hindering the Municipality’s ability to officially manage airport parking, the marina location, and anchorages.

“Last year, we developed a project for improving traffic access and organizing parking for Tivat Airport at our expense, which was agreed upon within the state study for the airport’s location. We submitted this to the Traffic Administration, which should implement it in conjunction with the current boulevard construction work. I acknowledge the situation is urgent and concerning, as the airport acts as Tivat’s tourist gateway. We are frustrated because negative perceptions about the city reflect on us, despite our limited authority while others lag in their responsibilities,” clarified Komenović.

He also announced the near completion of the second phase of the Belani lungo mare promenade and the upcoming start of the final phase in the fall. He added that new streets parallel to the Adriatic Highway were being developed, which are essential for the highway’s reconstruction into a city boulevard and for further strengthening the local administration.

Komenović noted the challenge of insufficient or expired planning documentation, which has been centralized by the state.

“Despite the numerous significant issues—some of which are perplexing due to our dependency on external entities—the city’s development has not stalled. We remain committed to addressing citizens’ needs as Tivat evolves rapidly, and we recognize that its infrastructure is largely outdated and inadequate for contemporary requirements and standards,” asserted Komenović.

The councilors voted in favor of a loan for the Municipality of Tivat amounting to 2.5 million euros for the implementation of the project “Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment on the Adriatic Coast – Phase V Component 2,” facilitated by the German development bank KfW, with a repayment term of 20 years and a grace period of ten years.

The Assembly also adopted the Strategy for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Tivat, along with the Development of the Business Info Center by 2029, as well as the Local Action Plan for Youth 2025-2026.

The Assembly’s session continues tonight.

News