Council Night 2: Gahan rules by edict via unelected boards, so Gonder posits a more pro-active council.

I probably borrowed this from the newspaper. 

Lots to digest here, so we'll travel point by point.

Gonder not pleased with lack of action by New Albany City Council in 2014, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune)

NEW ALBANY — The New Albany City Council approved a third consecutive balanced budget in 2014.

But several meetings included no voting items or only a nonbinding resolution for consideration, and Councilman John Gonder said he felt like there was more that could have been done by the city’s legislative body last year.

“It’s sort of bothersome that we had a number of meetings where we were literally in and out in 15 minutes,” he said. “I think it seems like we’re trying to slip into reelection mode here and not do anything that would get anybody to object.”

Here's the specific reality that should be most bothersome to the conscientious council members.

Many big projects such as the aquatic center and recently the approval of a dog park and expansion of the downtown Farmers Market were approved by boards other than the council. The council did give its blessing to the aquatic center, but the New Albany Redevelopment Commission essentially holds the purse strings to the project.

Ah, but what, the mayor's left hand man worry?

Councilman Pat McLaughlin has served as the president of the body the past two years, and will seek a third-term in the seat Monday.

“I think we’ve had some good years, and some good, objective dialogue with the administration,” he said Friday.

The city has launched significant quality-of-life projects in the outdoor aquatic center and Silver Street Park, which are set to open in 2015, and McLaughlin said he would like to see New Albany pave more streets and alleys this year.

That's right, "objective dialogue" with a mayor who never attends council meetings, leaving us to guess that most of the chatting took place amid surf 'n' turf and longnecks at the Roadhouse. That, and even more paving in a time of stormwater runoff.

Meanwhile, CM Gonder notes "missed opportunities in 2014."

(Gonder) was a proponent of salvaging the former tavern at 922 Culbertson Ave. which was ordered to be razed by the administration. He said the demolition was a blow to historic preservation efforts in New Albany.

Gonder also wanted to see more progress on pedestrian projects such as adding sidewalks along Captain Frank Road and Slate Run Road.

The revamp of the city’s property maintenance codes should give the council a real opportunity to bring positive change to the city, Gonder said.

The ordinance — which is sponsored by Councilman Kevin Zurschmiede — has been tabled since last month. Administration officials said they wanted the changes to match state standards before moving forward with the legislation.

And then there is this.

Gonder said he would like to see the ordinance expanded to include rental property registration and other regulations that would curb problems with slumlords.

Wait -- you mean to say that the council is contemplating a property maintenance code update without including rental property registration and heightened slumlord scrutiny?

Isn't that like a doctor fixing your broken leg by prescribing a new pair of khakis?