As McLaughlin dozes, Coffey expresses his dislike of fuddy-duddy steamboat seal-bearing visitors.

At last evening's meeting of the Ayatollah Coffey Prayer Klatsch (ACPK, which sounds remarkably similar to sounds formerly made by Bill the Cat), local historian Vic Megenity sat patiently, awaiting his turn to speak at the very end, when public comments on non-agenda items are permitted.

When his opportunity came, photocopies were distributed as Megenity told the story of the Robert E. Lee steamboat, which was constructed in New Albany in 1866 and is pictured on New Albany's official seal (to the left).

The reason why Megenity attended the meeting is the appearance lately of a new symbol (to the right, above), which recently began appearing on-line, in documents and as affixed to a new generation of street signs.

Here is a color view of the new symbol, which depicts an anchor.

Megenity's point: Why has the perennial symbol been changed? Had the council approved such a change? Was anyone present aware of the reasoning?

And why an anchor, which symbolizes being kept in place, rather than moving forward?

(Amid all this talk of symbols and symbolism, CM Scott Blair was observed shifting uncomfortably in his seat, a banker preferring as always the rock-hard realism of the spreadsheet)

Verily, public speaking time before council is supposed to be exactly that. Members of the public say their piece, without interference, but rare is the time when this actually happens. Like so many others before him, Megenity was not able to complete his remarks last night before being shouted down by Coffey, who commonly is allowed to posture and bully in this manner because Pat McLaughlin, the ostensible presiding officer (and the mayor's designated gatekeeper), is perhaps the single weakest-willed such performer in the council's recent memory.

Thus, we were treated to Coffey caterwauling and foaming at the mouth about his preference for the new symbol, and his back-dated ire at historic preservation constantly standing in the way of his kickbacks from city-ordained demolition specialists, until finally John Gonder intervened to query the obvious: Why has this switcheroo occurred without anyone knowing it?

The city's economic dishevelment facilitator, David Duggins, at long last became interested in the melee, and vaulted forward to volunteer this: The new symbol is a "marketing piece" and "branding mechanism," and not a new official seal.

Branding and marketing. By executive order. Small wonder we remain anchored.

Megenity produced a surviving artifact from the original Robert E. Lee steamboat. It's a bell pull.

Ring the steamboat's bell, and make Dan Coffey drool. The jokes write themselves, don't they, Dr. Pavlov?

Here's the resolution of the historical society; as it is purely symbolic, we can surmise much discomfort in the bean counter's milieu.

Can we find someone to run a meeting efficiently?