In the event of Gian Luca Zattini’s victory, many would have put their hand in the fire on the reconfirmation of Vittorio Cicognani in the council. And they wouldn’t have been wrong. Cicognani, an expert accountant, is the man with the accounts, the councilor on whom everyone depends when it comes to the fateful question “Is there any money?”. Very loyal to Zattini, he has been with him for 15 years of administration: ten when he was mayor of Meldola and for the last 5 as mayor of Forlì.
He has responsibilities for the Budget and Public Works. Despite not having a party behind it (being directly appointed by the mayor as a trustee) one cannot speak of a technical role. In the city council Cicognani was one of the councilors who “battled” the most with the centre-left opposition. Compared to the previous mandate, a difference emerges in his bouquet of delegations: Luca Bartolini is entrusted with the “major works”, while some major works, indeed currently the largest on site in Forlì, the ring road (a state public work by Anas) , is already being followed by the Mobility Councilor Giuseppe Petetta. The round of interviews begins with the interview with Cicognani ForlìToday to the councilors, among the new and reconfirmed.
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Cicognani, a reconfirmation with the same mandates. Did you expect it?
“There are never certainties in this field. But I am very happy to have been reconfirmed, I was available to the mayor and the entire coalition. These are the delegations where, for a series of reasons, I can give the best in what I know how to do, because I have been doing it for a long time. I thank everyone who allowed this reconfirmation.”
Where there is Zattini there is invariably Cicognani, what is your connection to the mayor?
“There is a relationship of friendship, but above all there is a relationship of trust. He knows what I can do and how I can do it thanks to this experience of 15 years together.”
The Budget Councilor, like the Minister of Finance, must essentially do two things: find the money and keep the accounts in order…
“Yes there is this, and then there are public works, which however are very varied and have many variations. For example, those related to roads are followed by councilor Petetta, I mainly deal with public works on buildings. However, I would not formalize the delegations: we are a council, there are 10 of us including the mayor and the delegations all belong to the mayor. As we have done in the last 5 years, we will work in harmony and synergy.”
Compared to the previous council, a delegation was created for Luca Bartolini relating to major works. Have some of your first term tasks been separated?
“No, there are two very important and very large things to follow that weren’t there before: the Ex Eridania and the ancient Ripa monastery. There is a need for a figure who focuses on their management, but above all who interfaces with the other bodies involved. Let’s not forget that Ripa is not from the Municipality.”
Does Cicognani represent the republican world in the council?
“No, I have sympathies for the republican world but I don’t have any party membership. I don’t represent him on the council.”
Is it true that you haven’t had an office in the municipality in the last 5 years?
“Yes, it’s true. I didn’t even have it in Meldola. I don’t need it. The councilors give the political directions, then it is the managers and offices who write the resolutions and generally implement the directions. They are the employees who know what kind of race to do or other things. They know how to do it, in the best possible way and in compliance with the laws. That’s right, these are the relationships and skills established by Bassanini. When I have to discuss a job I go to the construction site. But other delegations make the relationship with the public necessary, for which an office is needed.”
The mayor spoke of continuity, but also of innovation in the presentation of the council. When entrusting you with the delegation, did you ask for discontinuity and innovation on certain themes?
“The delegations were only defined on Monday, we haven’t talked about it yet. On future occasions he will give us indications on how he wants to carry out the projects. The mayor won the elections in the first round, this means that the citizens appreciated what we did. So there will certainly be continuity, then as in all things there will be things to change and improve. But this is not about politics, it is about life.”
