A. New personnel are required, including a Fire Sergeant, and a couple of other officers. It was disclosed that they are having difficulty in recruiting these positions - especially the Fire Sergeant. It was suggested that they may request these posts to be filled from government staff in Ankara. A motion was passed for recruitment to go ahead.

B. The Belediye requires new vehicles. As the Belediye has taken bin collections 'in-house', there is a requirement for a new dustcart. Two motorbikes and a new service vehicle are also required. After heated exchanges about how expensive these are, it was agreed that they will go to the government Purchasing Department, for better pricing. Apparently, they get discounted prices because they buy more and distribute them to various authorities. The motion was passed.

The meeting was then opened to members of the public in the room.

Not for the first time, complaints about the excessive use of advertising boards outside business establishments were raised. Although businesses have been warned about this, nothing appears to have changed. It was claimed that this practise causes significant traffic problems. The Mayor said that there will be final announcement over the PA System, and if the warning is not heeded, removal of boards will commence.

There was a request for KAPSA to look into the problem of dogs barking. A representative of KAPSA at the meeting said that there is very little KAPSA can do about dogs barking. However KAPSA is about to receive a device, which emits a piercing sound that only dogs can hear. It is triggered by a barking noise, and is supposed to deter them from barking. KAPSA will trial this device on local dogs.

Please watch out for a forthcoming article on KTLN about street animals.