[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 161 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING RETIRING BOSTON TOWN COUNCILMAN KARL J. SIMMETH

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                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2005

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a public official 
whose service as a member of the Boston Town Board has been honorable 
and whose dedication to his community has been steadfast. Today, I want 
to honor the service of Councilman Karl Simmeth.
  Karl Simmeth served as a member of the Boston Town Board while his 
town continued to see growth and expansion, as more Western New Yorkers 
choose to live in towns beyond the first ring of Erie County's suburbs. 
The town of Boston is well-known as a great place to live and raise a 
family, and it is so, in no small measure, because of the dedicated 
service of public officials like Karl.
  Karl took his work on the town board very seriously. Karl's areas of 
expertise included committees and other town board functions involving 
street lighting, the town's Conservation Advisory Council, drainage and 
solid waste, and the oversight of South Boston Park. In short, Karl 
worked to deal with issues important to local residents.
  Karl wears another hat in town, and that hat is political--he is 
Chairman of the town's Republican committee. Accordingly, when it comes 
to matters political, Karl and I were rarely on the same side of the 
fence. However, when it comes to his love for the town of Boston and 
for his work on its behalf, Karl always checked his politics at the 
door. His work was always professional and I am grateful to him for his 
advocacy on the town's behalf.
  Mr. Speaker, when all is said and done, a public servant wants to 
leave government in better shape than when he or she came in; that is 
certainly the case here. The town of Boston is a better place for Karl 
Simmeth's service, and I am pleased and appreciative to have had the 
opportunity to recognize him here today.

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