Gonder: "Assessing the Council's performance from home, I'd leave my shoes on, at least for now."

It is the year 2008.

There are nine members of New Albany's city council.

According to the city clerk's web site, two council members (Steve Price & Diane Benedetti) either have no e-mail address or won't divulge it.

Then there's John Gonder.

Whatever else we might say about the current edition of the council, it is indisputable that CM Gonder is the only member therein willing and able to cyberspeak with regularity. In essence, this means that he is bilingual, and I for one appreciate his efforts.

After all, it is 2008 ... and soon, it will be 2009.

Yesterday, Gonder was the second of two local Democrats to post a blog, and I hope I'm not violating protocol by providing brief excerpts here and recommending that readers follow the link and peruse the entire document. I'm guessing that's what he wants, although I've been wrong before.

What do you make of Gonder's assessment of the council in 2008?

You Can Leave Your Shoes On

... The present incarnation of the City Council, while not departing, is winding down its first year. This seems a good time to reflect on its progress to date.

The first significant decision of the Council was to choose Jeff Gahan as its president. That decision carried two major ramifications which unfolded over the course of the year.

First was the shelving of the redistricting plan. A newly drawn Council District map would have had no effect on the current representation on the council, but could have yielded a different roster going into the elections of 2011. Although this issue appears dead, its reappearance should shock no one.

The second major plot point owing to Gahan's position was the smoking ordinance. That ordinance represented a principled stand on on issue about which there should be no debate. That there was debate can not be denied. The outcome of this issue was determined by a Mayoral veto. That decision could have proven an insurmountable obstacle to the necessary cooperation between any Mayor and any Council. It did not, and I am grateful for that. I will not make a categorical statement on future smoking legislation, but I'd be disinclined to revisit the issue in any form, any time, for any reason.

The issue which I feel is central to so many of our problems can be wrapped up in a package called code enforcement. The city, any city, can not sustain itself when housing stock deteriorates to the point it discourages people and families from seriously considering living in it ...

Gonder's assessment of the council's performance in 2008 is comprehensive, so don't forget to follow the link and read all of it.