(Regarding the article that appeared in the Jan. 3 issue to summarize significant village events in 2000): Last May, as required by village election law, I appointed John Mauk to the village board of trustees to fill a position vacated because of Trustee Larry Kettner's move to New Jersey. Trustee Mauk, who had served on the Village Planning Commission for nine years, has a background in business, government, law, construction and development. He also continues to play a major role, as he has for a number of years, in helping to develop and implement the current school construction program.

I was urged to make this appointment by over 240 residents of the estates section of the village who shared my belief that Mr. Mauk was the right person for the position of trustee, and who signed a petition to that effect. As I indicted at the time, I selected Mr. Mauk because I felt his background and experience were of the type needed on the board of trustees to help address some of the difficult issues confronting the village. These include the future of St. Paul's, the modernization of Village Hall, and revitalization of the business community, including sensitive issues pertaining to an increase in village parking spaces.

Since his appointment, my faith in Trustee Mauk has been borne out many times over. As one of his first assignments, he was directed to chair a committee of other trustees to consider the retention of a consultant to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) in the village. This is something the business community has sought for several years, but which was an issue of concern to some trustees and other village residents. Under Trustee Mauk's leadership, a resolution was achieved that is satisfactory to all parties, and that enabled a consultant to be retained to undertake further study before any final decision is made regarding BID implementation.

This is representative of the steady, reasoned approach, and willingness to work with others to resolve village problems, that Mr. Mauk has brought to all of his work as a trustee over the past several months. Anyone who has seen Trustee Mauk in action knows that I couldn't have made a better choice for the board of trustees. John Mauk's brief tenure as a trustee has been a positive contribution to our system of government, and I hope the village will continue to benefit from his service for years to come.

Harold P. Hecken

Mayor

Village of Garden City