Znaczenie Sołtysa dla komunikacji, bezpieczeństwa i partycypacji społecznej w gminie

The article analyses the significance of the village administrator institution in the structure of local government at the municipal level, with particular emphasis on its role in communication, social participation and the local security system. The author presents the evolution of the village administrator's office in Poland, emphasising its historical significance and contemporary functions as the executive body of the village and an intermediary between residents and municipal authorities. The empirical part presents the results of pilot studies conducted in 2025 among village leaders as part of the ‘Resident-friendly municipality’ project. The study aimed to assess the role of village leaders in the investment decision-making process, identify factors influencing the acquisition of information from residents, and analyse their potential in the field of security and crisis management. The results indicate that village leaders primarily perform a communicative and representative function, and their involvement can be utilised in public alert and warning systems. The author recommends formally including village leaders in local crisis management plans, standardising information transfer procedures, and preparing them to respond to emergency situations. He also points to the need to use public trust in village leaders as a factor in improving the effectiveness of security systems and reducing the risk of misinformation.