There is a storm around Marius Nilsen, the Center Party politician who last year became chief executive of the administration in Gamvik municipality. A number of bosses in the municipality have accused him of harassment. The lawyers who have examined the notice believe that it shows that Nilsen is not fit to lead the municipality. On Wednesday evening, the municipal council held a closed meeting on the matter, where they decided that the post of municipal director should be advertised with the assistance of professional recruiters. (Nilsen is appointed in the job.) But the whistleblower case is only one of the things Nilsen has to contend with. He has in fact broken both the Municipal Act, a safety regulation and a loan agreement. – It is becoming more and more burdensome to have Nilsen as municipal director, says SV’s group leader Alf Normann Hansen to news. Marius Nilsen knew that he was not doing things by the book when he took money for asphalt. news does not get an answer to whether he knew that he broke both the Municipal Act, a safety regulation and a loan agreement. Photo: Hanne B. Nordvåg / news Took asphalt money without asking In August, Marius Nilsen decided on his own that the gravel road to Slettnes lighthouse should be asphalted. Nilsen thought he got a great offer from contractors who were already in the area, he explained to iFinnmark. Therefore, he took the chance to take the money that the politicians had set aside for water and sewerage. He was fully aware that he was not doing things by the book. But it has turned out that Nilsen didn’t just risk reprimands from the politicians in the municipality. Several have signed up: First, Kommunalbanken has sent a letter to the municipality in which they write that borrowed money has been used contrary to its purpose. This means that the bank has the right to demand the amount back immediately. Then the State Administrator reported Gamvik municipality to the police for illegal paving in a nature reserve. Marius Nilsen himself will not comment on any of the cases. Around 1.6 kilometers of road is asphalted to a width of 3 metres. It is a breach of the protection regulations, says the State Administrator. Photo: Gunnar Sætra / news An explanation is required The Kommunalbanken has lent Gamvik just over NOK 12 million to invest in fixed assets. The money was paid out in May. But Gamvik is a so-called ROBEK municipality: They have no control over the economy and are placed under state management. The state administrator must approve all investments. The loan agreement is based on the municipality’s compliance with the law and that the State Administrator has approved the use of the money. But both conditions have been breached, Kommunalbanken points out in a letter to Gamvik municipality. The bank makes it clear that they see the breach as serious: “Kommunalbanken AS has the right to bring the loan to maturity with immediate effect, among other things if there are significant breaches of the conditions set out in the loan agreement”, the letter says. It is written on September 5. The municipality has until the end of the month to respond. – Mister trust SV’s group leader Alf Normann Hansen is upset that yet another controversy has arisen related to Marius Nilsen. – It joins the series of challenges related to the municipal director exceeding his powers, Hansen tells news. – We are losing trust with the Kommunalbanken, we are losing trust with the State Administrator. Now there are starting to be many points. Hansen urges the majority in the municipal council to take responsibility and ensure that Nilsen is not employed on a permanent basis. As he has understood it, they are still open to considering an application from Nilsen. Mayor Ragnhild Vassvik will not comment on the message from Kommunalbanken until the matter has been dealt with politically. Brushshanks and red-billed terns are two of the many species that nest or migrate at Slettnes. Photo: Kjartan Trana / news Reported to the police in a security case The fact that Marius Nilsen did not ask the politicians about money for asphalt is in itself a breach of the Municipal Act. This is stated by assistant state administrator Toril Feldt. She believes that Nilsen has also broken the conservation rules for the Slettnes nature reserve. – The whole situation is very unfortunate. And seriously, says Feldt. Slettnes has a distinctive coastal landscape with wetlands and large numbers of birds, both during the breeding season and during migration in spring and autumn. That is why it is protected. The safety regulations only allow maintenance of existing roads and facilities. The management plan specifically mentions that asphalting is a type of measure they must apply for. The municipality received guidance on this in a letter last year at the latest, says Feldt to news. The state administrator has reported the case to the police, who are following up on the criminal law. For the state administrator, the question is whether they should demand that the asphalt be removed again, or whether the municipality should get a dispensation. – It is a question of what damage has already been done, and whether it is possible to correct it, says Feldt. news has asked the state administrator to elaborate on what kind of damage the asphalting can do to conservation values, directly or indirectly. The state administrator will not go into this further until the matter has been further assessed by them. PS: Marius Nilsen is not the only top municipal manager in Finnmark who breaks the law knowingly and willingly. His colleague in Kautokeino was reported to the police last year for breach of duty in the Criminal Code. Published 19.09.2024, at 15.22 Updated 19.09.2024, at 17.11
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Municipal director used money illegally – Gamvik has been reported to the police and has trouble with the bank – news Troms and Finnmark
