Council members and fellow Rotarians tried to explain how effective Cotton had been–so effective that he could go missing for 3 week periods while getting paid. As a compromise, Jim Bond suggested that the mayor should be contacted if Phil planned on disappearing again until his replacement is hired.

I interpret the self-determined, 3-week paid vacation differently. He was trying to tell us how little he did. I only regret that he is leaving with "a millionaire’s" pension for his "service."