what readers said

Tribute to T. J. Plunkett

My compliments to Municipal World and George Betts for the article on Tom Plunkett (May 2005). I was one of those many students who Tom taught and rnentored over the years. My career in local government related public institutions began with support from Tom, and over

George's tribute is most fitting for a man who made many singular contributions to local government. I understand that the Queen's University School of Public Policy is developing a suitable memorial program as a tangible tribute to Tom, and I know all of us who knew him will support such an endeavour.

Thank you for recognizing Tom Plunkctt's remarkable contributions to local government!

Jim Dillane

Director, Finance and Business Development

Toronto and Region Conservation

Pitfalls of Being a Mayor

I found George Cuff's article in the May issue of Municipal World interesting and agree with his comments with one exception, and that is how it relates to "field inspections" and "site visits." I have found great support in my community for people seeing "the mayor" out and about in the community. As I tour rural roads on the weekend I stop and talk with people, listen to their complaints and the odd compliment, when a major fire happens I go out after the fact and ensure people are being helped as required. We have a new multi-use recreation complex being built, I visit regularly, walk around and get an appreciation of how things are going so I can answer questions in the community.