Over the years, municipal clerks have become the hub of government, the direct link between the inhabitants of their community and their government. The Clerk is the historian of the community, for the entire recorded history of the town (city) and its people is in his or her care.
The eminent political scientist, Professor William Bennett Munro, writing in one of the first textbooks on municipal administration (1934), stated: "No other office in municipal service has so many contracts. It serves the mayor, the city council, the city manager (when there is one), and all administrative departments without exception. All of them call upon it, almost daily, for some service or information. Its work is not spectacular, but it demands versatility, alertness, accuracy, and no end of patience. The public does not realize how many loose ends of city administration this office pulls together."
These words, written more than 50 years ago, are even more appropriate today.
The City of Tom Bean and City Secretary Cathy Pugh hosted the monthly Lone Star Municipal Clerks Chapter luncheon on Wednesday, June 3 at the Edwards Community Room at the First National Bank of Tom Bean. Mayor Sherry E. Howard gave the opening welcome to the group prior to the luncheon/program.
A presentation was made to Cathy Pugh by the mayor for her support of all the city staff everyday prior to the luncheon. Three recent retirees were honored at the luncheon by Chapter President Kathy Wingo, Lucas City Secretary.
Diane Zucco, Plano City Secretary awarded the winner of Clerk of the Year during the luncheon.
Mary Kayser, Garland City Secretary, was the luncheon speaker on the topic of Networking: Weaving our strands of knowledge and building our bridges of empowerment.
Lunch was catered by Dickey’s Barbeque Pit with cake being served at the end of the luncheon.
The next luncheon is scheduled for August and will be held in Denison with Julie Lollar as hostess.