BY SUSAN VELA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FALMOUTH - Mayor Max Goldberg remembers that a resident once called him at 2 or 3 a.m. to rail about a hole in his street that supposedly was big as a house.
Mr. Goldberg went back to sleep after this nightmare of sorts, and, when city workers repaired the hole, which actually was a lot smaller than a house or even a hut, Mayor Goldberg called the resident - around 2 or 3 a.m. - to report the completed repairs.
"It teed him off, but, later on, he thought it was funny, too," Mayor Goldberg said. "I should've written a book on all the things that happened over the years, the little silly things."
Many Falmouth residents would agree. Mayor Goldberg is considered to be one of Pendleton County's most interesting characters and will retire from city politics after serving as Falmouth's mayor for more than three decades.
He's getting on in years and wants more time to manage the properties he owns in Falmouth and Tennessee.
"After all, I'm 85 years old," said Mr. Goldberg, who didn't run for re-election this year. "It's just getting too much for me. I'm not retiring. I'm just quitting being mayor."
But he's already put out the welcome mat for city officials who might want to make use of his experience and knowledge. Mayor-elect Jim Hammond plans to take up his offer.
"We're real good friends," said Mr. Hammond, who was a Falmouth police officer under Mayor Goldberg between 1968 and 1970. "Max is sort of like a legend . . . . We'll remain in touch. He told me, anything I needed, his door was always open."
Mr. Hammond also mentioned his admiration for Mr. Goldberg's dedication to Falmouth.
"He could have gone anywhere else and succeeded," he said. "I really respect a guy willing to stay in his hometown all these years."
Mr. Goldberg, the son of Russian Jews, was born in Falmouth and is positive he's the only Jewish person in Pendleton County. He's also certain that he's one of the longest-serving mayors in Kentucky. His offer last year to buy dinner for anyone who has served longer has gone unanswered.
The Goldberg family operated a successful department store, but Mr. Goldberg, a World War II veteran who served as a pilot, preferred fast cars, boats and world travel to the family business.
Virgiline Moore remembers those days. The City Council member has worked with Mayor Goldberg in an official capacity for 15 years, but she met him about 60 years ago. He was a friend of her family's.
"He was handsome," she said. "All the girls were after him. He always had nice cars and boats. He's a person that has always been kind to everybody, and he's good to the people that have a hard time. (As mayor), he's done a lot of things for Falmouth and Pendleton County. He's been very good for development."
When Mr. Goldberg took office, the roads of Falmouth were nothing but rock and gravel, and there was one police officer to protect the whole town. Since then, the roads have been blacktopped, police officers and firefighters have been added to the city payroll, and businesses and factories have moved into the area.
Pendleton County Judge-Executive Donald R. Mays credits Mr. Goldberg for the changes. They have worked with each other on an official level for at least 20 years.
"In the early years, he was very aggressive in getting money," Mr. Mays said. "He tries to do everything he can for Falmouth. He's been a real hard worker. (The city once) was just a small country town, but there have been a lot of improvements over the years."
Mr. Goldberg now owns a lot of real estate in the area, including almost an entire block of downtown property, and he has been rumored to be a millionaire, but says that's "way overexaggerated."
Of his accomplishments as mayor, Mayor Goldberg said he's most proud "that we have a town here."
He has seen Falmouth weather - a tornado, two major floods and plenty of small ones. Destruction from the March 1997 floods was the worst, he said. His own properties suffered about $100,000 in damage.
The mayor and council members have had to deal with the repercussions, making grant applications and having heated debates while they strive to help their city recover.
"There have been enough city council meetings to last for 10 years," Mr. Goldberg said. "It hasn't been easygoing. I'll miss it, but again it was a big headache, too.
"It's harder being a mayor in a small town. Everybody knows you and . . . the older people will call at 1 or 2 in the morning."
But, for the next few weeks, this just might be the only city in Kentucky where the mayor returns the favor.
