Lawlessness again tolerated.

They wanted him to be president, so he makes a mockery of their rules. So be it. One wag was overheard to say: "Tonight, this council gave city hall the finger. aybe now city hall will give it back."

Our Apotheoses Are Marching On: Return to live blogging, Volume 2 (October 5).

COMMUNICATIONS – PUBLIC (continued):

5. Larry Timperman - for the city of New Albany ... Coffey overrules him and says come back during discussion later. Scott Wood agrees to another Coffey rule change.

6. David Andrews - attorney for Georgetown, to reiterate a few points. Speaks about original intent; the climate for sewer plant construction and how hard it is to achieve it; how small $450,000 is as a figure, and how that small of a number could not possibly impact NA ratepayers.

7. Mose Putney - architect for developer Jack Bobo. Questions? Should I speak then or now?

Coffey: "Jumping up three steps, but that's all right." Agrees.

COMMUNICATIONS – CITY OFFICIALS:

Benedetti - Flooding issues. She has been going to stormwater meetings. Asks about stormwater borrowing against EDIT rather than borrowing outside as a means of getting some of these projects started.

Pat McLaughlin - wants the discussion of the master plan to be sure and mollify the misunderstandings of the public and their intentional misleading by the council.

Coffey - Notes that the VFW wants to put together an Internet cafe to help our hallowed veterans reach their kids. Appoints Pat to it.

COMMUNICATIONS – MAYOR

Not present.

APPOINTMENTS:

None.

APPROVAL OF CF-1 FORMS:

None.

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: READING

R-09-23 Resolution Confirming the Establishment of an Economic Revitalization Area for Matt Chalfant d/b/a Chalfant Industries, Inc. by the Common Council of the City of New Albany (Messer)

Unanimous approval.

R-09-24 Resolution of the Common Council of the City of New Albany Amending the “New Albany-Fringe Area Comprehensive Plan 2020” (Price)

Steve Price wants to set up a committee to study this Master Plan because there are concerns about things, and the state's about to make all planning illegal because of budget restaints ... Messer notes that Price introduced the resolution, there was a second.

Coffey then dramatically says that in spite of Roberts Rules of Order, he'll be tabling the resolution because "they've been working on it for a year, and we've only had it for three days."

A-09-12 Ordinance For Appropriations and Tax Rates Benedetti 1

Kay Garry suggests approving on first reading and then going back for adjustments.

Against: Price, McLaughlin, Benedetti, Gahan, Gonder, maybe everyone else, too, except Messer.

A-09-13 An Ordinance to Fix the Non-Reverting Budgets For the Year 2010 (Zurschmiede1)

Against - enough; rejected it roughly 6-3.

We're witnessing a nadir even by their standards.

A-09-14 An Ordinance Setting Salaries for the Year 2010 for Non-Bargaining Unit Employees (Gahan 1 )

No: Beaten again, mostly the same votes.

Now we are rushing through the "no" votes as fast as Coffey can take us.

G-09-20 Ordinance To Replace A Tabled Ordinance Seeking A Moratorium on Building Permits (Gonder 1)

Price: Retention ponds?

Gonder: New rules that are more strict must be retroactively rectified by developers.

Gahan, Zurschmiede, Coffey against.

A-09-11 Ordinance Appropriating Funds for One Time Cost Of Living Recognition Payment and Setting Amount Of Payments

Caesar tables it. No objections this time, because caesar did it right.

G-09-19 An Ordinance to Reflect Technical Changes Necessary As a Result of An Agreement With the Town of Georgetown (McLaughlin 3)

Coffey carries it "no" 5-4.

MISCELLANOUS ITEMS:

None.

Council chamber of bland apotheoses (VFW retromix): Or, Live blogging returns, Volume 1.

So far, so good ... live blogging is back.

THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CIVIL CITY OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA, WILL HOLD A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IN THE THIRD FLOOR ASSEMBLY ROOM OF THE CITY/COUNTY BUILDING ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2009 AT 7:30 P.M.

First up:

A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD AT 7:15 TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:

R-09-23
Resolution Confirming the Establishment of an Economic Revitalization Area for Matt Chalfant d/b/a Chalfant Industries, Inc. by the Common Council of the City of New Albany

A-09-12
Ordinance For Appropriations and Tax Rates

Almost no discussion for either of these. Chalfant's deal has been working through the pipeline, etc., comes up for approval tonight.

Council president Dan Coffey takes the opportunity to stage whisper his contempt for the sort of thinking that would posit a parking garage as part of the downtown development plan being thrown out for sledgehammering tonight.

Here's our conclusion, one gleaned from watching the council break down into little discussion groups as meeting time draws near: Tonight, the council intends to drive a stake through the heart of Georgetown forever. Bankruptcy, anyone? It's okay, really; my mom's on septic.

AGENDA

CALL TO ORDER:

PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

ROLL CALL:

All present except the attorney.

APPROVAL OR CORRECTION OF THE FOLLOWING MINUTES:

Moved and approved: New Albany Common Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 3, 2009

COMMUNICATIONS – PUBLIC:

Here are the AGENDA ITEMS. Coffey asks that comment be limited to five minutes.

1. Jack Fine (?) says he is representing the VFW Post on East 5th Street, and he's conveying the uncertainty of the Post as to designs on VFW property as illustrated in the master plan (R-09-24). Thinks it's a shame that no one called to include them. On page 9 of the council's handbook, he sees a reference to removal of a surface parking lot and relocation of a tank and replacement with something approximating brownstones.

Coffey: Did anyone (from city hall or the administration) contact you about this?

Nope - first we've heard of it. We believe that betterment is great, but don't talk about taking our property.

What's hilarious about this is that this very council, now outraged at such a usurpation, would have to allocate money for anything to ever happen to the VFW or its property. They wouldn't, but tonight's sentiment already looks to be anti-master plan grandstanding.

CM Gonder: Explains things rationally.

Lawyer: Would the resolution be binding? Like any resolution, it would be a foot hold and must be opposed unless someone notifies them. Says he got a phone call from a council person two hours ago about this.

Scott Wood also seeks to be rational. The lawyer then says: We're against it, whatever it is.

2. Shirley Baird - supports the cost of living rises that come back up tonight.

3. Ron Granger - (master plan) Wants council to consider handicapped spots on the VFW lot that isn't going to be taken anytime soon.

Bob Caesar apologizes and reassures the VFW that Barack Obama will not take their parking lot and tank away. Funny how after numerous public notices and publicty about the master plan, the VFW comes swooping in like Stukas at the last minute at the behest of a council person. Gee.

4. Billy Stewart - Lays out the defense for Georgetown, rebuts percentage of use cited by some, and explains the reason for wholesale versus retail sewer rates. Very earnestly speaks. Says it will take them some more time. All they're asking for is an extension, and they'll pay $25,000 right now for these. And, there's more: NA doesn't have to give back the money Georgetown has paid but not used for sewer improvements.

Coffey approves a question by Diane Benedetti: Questions Stewart's numbers, he does the math. "Still millions of dollars," in short, I believe she's trying to help him with his case.

Stewart: "No free ride ... we're paying for our ride."

(to be continued)

Live blogging tonight? Who knows?

If you don't see anything on the board by eight, then we're shut out again. I was put in touch with the city's IT fellow about three weeks ago, and since then, all I've heard is that he's working on the problem.

We shall see.

Teaser: Thursday column excerpt.

You'll have to wait until Thursday to read the rest of my weekly column at the Tribune's web site. Until then, know that the fly on the wall didn't make the final cut.

Sputtering and coughing, the Regress Express eased onto Spring Street and headed west.

“Watch out, CC,” exclaimed Li’l Stevie. “You’re in the bike lane, boss. It’s illegal to mow the bike lane.”

I wouldn’t worry about that,” replied Cappuccino through clenched teeth. “We’re against ordinance enforcement, remember?”

The week ahead: Meetings amid festivals on top of appeals.

It's Harvest Homecoming week, with Monday being the only night off during NABC's week-long Fringe Fest, and if I was sane ... or sober ...

But: I'm probably not looking at either of those conditions any time soon, so it looks as though the usual suspects will assemble in the council chamber tomorrow night to endure another round of punishment.

The agenda has been released, and the Tribune looks at two of the biggest items.

McLaughlin: Georgetown needs to pay $450,000

Top dogs to get say on masterplan

However, the most compelling meeting of the week looks to be Tuesday evening's Board of Zoning Appeals session. Too bad that it's Klezmer Night at the Brewhouse.

Decision time for Eastridge request

After three postponements, the New Albany Board of Zoning Appeals will likely vote on a variance request Tuesday for a controversial tire shredding and recycling center along Ind. 111.

Thursday's Tribune column: "Oktoberfest: No Lite in sight."

I was so busy at the end of the week that the week's Tribune column slipped past.

BAYLOR: Oktoberfest: No Lite in sight

We stocked up on beer, salami, beer, cheese, beer, bread and beer before boarding the train in Copenhagen for the overnight journey to Munich, where reservations had been made at an inexpensive “pension” (small family-run guesthouse) fairly near the Hauptbahnhof. Taking care to pack the leftovers, we hurried down the platform to what was always the first must-stop, the famous Imbiss at the foot of Gleis (track) 16.

Harvest Homecoming Parade, the annual parade party, and Day One of Fringe Fest.

Thanks to Ted for the video. I took the photos. From the top down:

Front porch politburo (1117 E. Spring Street Neighborhood Association); atop NABC's fire truck on a gorgeous parade day; Bank Street Brewhouse patrons watch the parade pass by as the cash register numbers spin (thanks to Bob Caesar for that one); new Tony Beard placard artwork on the north patio of the brewhouse; The Outfit jazzing it up into the evening.

Interesting: The Tribune's Chris Morris offers a jeer to "a few downtown New Albany business owners."

Chris Morris’s unexpectedly vigorous comments (reprinted here, verbatim) seem to have passed unnoticed, perhaps because he chose an admirable discretion in naming names. I appreciate that, and in the coming days, there’ll be the opportunity for this blog to transform the vague into the concrete, because there are times when things like this need to be said aloud.

Not just yet, though. Until there's time, here is the Tribune “jeer.” As you're reading, bear these thoughts in mind:

Is there any chance at all of unity among proponents of downtown, especially its mercantile class, or will parochial self-interest always trump singularity of purpose?

If there is even a chance of unity, who or what can a majority of forward thinking proponents trust to lead it?

If petty self-interest always carries the day, then can we expect to succeed as an entity without there being an ultimate, shared, desired outcome?

Are all downtown merchants equal, or are some longstanders more equal than the others?

TRIBUNE CHEERS & JEERS: Sept. 30, 2009

JEERS... to a very few downtown New Albany business owners. Good sources confirm to The Tribune that a small group complained about how their businesses would suffer by having the Harvest Homecoming parade re-routed down Pearl Street. The parade will now end at Bank as it has in previous years instead of going to Pearl. The committee wanted to change the route to get more people familiar with the businesses along Pearl and in the downtown area. How much will business be hurt? People not attending the parade know to stay away from the downtown area at that time. So a change seems like it would help bring potential customers to the area. Businesses could capitalized by running special parade deals or promotions.

Harvest Homecoming is New Albany’s premier event of the year and downtown businesses should work together with the festival.

Another edition of "Fringe Fest Update" is here.

More listings were added overnight, so check out the revised Fringe Fest schedule. We're still working on next Wednesday night, but most of the other blanks have been filled.

NABC's Fringe Fest set for Oct. 3rd, 4th, and the 6th through the 10th -- all at the Bank Street Brewhouse.

Don't forget this afternoon at the Public House, two more delicious Franconian "Anstich" kegs will be tapped -- and they're top-shelf, marquee names for those in the know:

Löwenbräu (Buttenheim) Ungespundetes Lagerbier (Kellerbier) ... Löwenbräu Buttenheim, Buttenheim
AND
Spezial Rauchbier ... Brauerei Spezial, Bamberg

I'm off now to sweep the garage for the NAC's annual Harvest Homecoming parade party. There'll be a special appearance by a keg of Victory Hop Wallop ... so we're hoping to see many of you tomorrow!

5th annual NAC Harvest Homecoming parade party is Saturday!

Saturday (October 3) will be the 5th annual Harvest Homecoming parade viewing party hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Confidential at their domicile on East Spring Street.

World's largest condom machine to eliminate the need for membership dues at the 1117 East Spring Neighborhood Association.

As noted many times before, there’ll be craft beer and a place to watch the parade, which will again include NABC representation in the form of Rosa L. Stumblebus and our usual fire truck.

The big change this year ...

Because NABC will be kicking off Fringe Fest with Jazz on the Patio just after the conclusion of the parade, we'll move the 1117 celebration downtown accordingly, eliminating evening hours as a result.

1117 will be open from around 10:00 a.m. (White Castle breakfast). Please bring morning/afternoon beer snacks, non-alcoholic drinks as needed, a sitting apparatus if desired, and we’ll improvise the rest. The draft lineup will be composed of partial kegs from NABC Grant Line. Trust me.

Hope to see readers ths Saturday. If you're an anonymous commentator from another blog, you're welcomed, too, but must wear a paper sack over your head to preserve the fiction.

NABC's Fringe Fest set for Oct. 3rd, 4th, and the 6th through the 10th -- all at the Bank Street Brewhouse.

If we'd just run the city like a deep fryer ...

Q - What did the New Albany councilperson say after the next election cycle?

A - You want fries with that?

Fringe Fest update.

The Fringe Fest calendar has been updated.

NABC's Fringe Fest set for Oct. 3rd, 4th, and the 6th through the 10th -- all at the Bank Street Brewhouse.

Scenes from Block Party & Toast -- both on Market.

Rest assured that the Block Party got bigger once the sun went down, at which point I had a beer in hand and was unable to take photos. Views from Toast are from lunchtime, yesterday.

Price secretly wants some, but Robison can't bear to watch.

Sweet Stuff open today, and Toast, and Dueling Grounds to follow ...

The Tribune covered this story a few weeks back (what happened to September, anyway?), but as of this morning, the Sweet Stuff Bakery has transitioned to its new 325 East Spring Street location and is open for business.

The plastic sheeting has come down to reveal the forthcoming Dueling Grounds Cafe at Destinations Booksellers, located just blocks east of Sweet Stuff at 604 E. Spring.

Lunchtime was clear yesterday, so Gregg Rochman and I investigated the scene at the debuting Toast On Market (East Market opposite the Grand). New Albany's branch of Toast boasts a stunning contemporary interior coexisting with exposed brick providing historic accents. The menu is identical to Louisville's, and there is a small top shelf liquor and wine selection befitting its morning and lunch hours (Toast closes after lunch). Toast is open on Sunday mornings at 7:00 a.m. Is this New Albany?

Well, is it?

The common theme of those in attendance at last evening's Block Party was something approximating incredulity. There were at least three hundred people in the middle of a newly paved street having fun on a Wednesday evening in downtown New Albany. I thought the last Waterfront Wednesday (Louisville) of the season might detract from attendance, but it did not, and the people I saw cut across age groups, demographics and beer preferences.

The vibe was celebratory and positive, just the sort of occurrence that public savants like Dan Coffey and Steve Price always avoid so as not to contradict their gloom and doom scenarios. It's their loss (and, unfortunately, ours, since they're unable to separate their personal prejudices from what passes for public policy meant to apply to all, not some).

Wick's Pizza is next on the horizon. By the time Harvest Homecoming is through, most of the elements will be in place. Now all we need is Councilman Bob Caesar's permission to operate in the vicinity of his mercantile turf. I'll be working on that one, and will explain in a future posting. By the way, has anyone seen Coffey's hoary abacus lately?

And so it is that six years after Mrs. Confidential agreed to our first Five Year Plan downtown, it has become possible for me to begin a free day with breakfast and a Bloody Mary, then continue imbibing, eating, listening and conversing through a whole day, drinking straight through into afternoon and evening, and never once depart from walking - from my home, into downtown, and back.

There's always more to be done. But that's fairly impressive, isn't it?

Council: Budgets and the art of french fry cookery.

At the behest of president Dan Coffey, 2nd district councilman Bob Caesar kicked off last evening's special council session by advocating as cure for the city's budget problems the sort of systems procedures that would mimic those put into place by the late McDonald's mogul Ray Kroc. The result for New Albany, as for McDonald's, would be grease temps, portion control, and consistent fries every single time.

That's really all you need to know.

Really. Fries.

The participants repeated their standard council speeches word for word, not a soul from City Hall was in sight, a handful of vapid pieties were dispensed, future candidates preened and postured, former council representative Schmidt attended (and so did her husband), ex-Mayor James Garner kicked off his next electoral campaign with an explnatory appearance, and to their credit, a good number of the council persons appeared at the Block Party afterward -- not Coffey, and not Steve Price, but you already knew that.

As for the details, Daniel Suddeath's piece in today's Trib will be linked below as soon as it appears, or as soon as I care -- whichever comes after lunch.

Confusion mounts over past loans, city’s financial obligations

Grandstanding aficionados note: Show trial begins tonight.

6:00 p.m. in the torture chamber, and it's BYOW -- Bring Yer Own Waterboards.

Will Professor Erika propose firing the deputy mayor ten times to total the amount of the needed cut? Will the Wizard of Westside apologize? Will Li'l Stevie say "people are hurtin'"? Will I drink a few Progressive Pints before the meeting starts?

(YES to the latter ... and don't forget, there's a block party down the street tonight)

State sez: Oops. Make that $4 million less.

Wonders never cease, and life's anything but boring in the bowels of the Open Air Museum.

Seeing as Dan Coffey went over-the-top punitive at the drop of the state's misplaced fedora, and immediately appointed himself judge, jury and executioner, must the show trials (and special hearings) go on?

Or will he ape the Fonz and say, "I was wr ... rr ... on ... on ... nn ... g"?

New Albany budget cut lowered to $813,376, by Daniel Suddeath.

New Albany will only have to cut $813,376 from its 2009 budget as opposed to the $4.8 million figure thrown out last week, state officials confirmed Tuesday.

State Rep. Ed Clere and a spokeswoman from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance stated in a conference call with The Tribune that due to an “accounting error”, the actual amount of the budget shortfall turned in to New Albany last week was wrong.

Finn: "Keep moving our community forward."

Apologies for overlooking this fine letter to the editor in Sunday's edition of the Tribune. Jerry Finn makes a cogent, fact-based case for continued progress. I've underlined my favorite paragraph.

Finn: Keep moving our community forward

The recent article on “Center of the City: Nearing a year in New Albany, YMCA is boosting fitness and business” was perfect timing for The Tribune. Daniel Suddeath’s creative and engaging article reminds us of how important it is to keep the energy focused to move our community forward making it a great place to live, learn, work and be family.

Seven years ago when the Horseshoe Foundation made the $20 million commitment to the YMCA and Aquatic Center, the board wanted not only a great facility for health and wellness, but also a means to revitalize the city center. Indeed the YMCA has been a huge success and the Foundation is proud to have been the catalyst to help make that happen. The board knew from the beginning economic growth would not be guaranteed success and that community leaders would have to continually pay attention to keep revitalization and redevelopment on the radar screen. It was for this reason the general manager of Horseshoe Southern Indiana and our board treasurer recommended the Foundation establish a Small Business Revolving Loan Fund to assist emerging private business enterprises in expanding operations and increasing or retaining employees. The fund is capitalized by a $250,000 grant made by Foundation and administered in partnership with One Southern Indiana. Several loans have benefited downtown business expansions as well as the county.

It is also for more than improving quality of life and cultural enrichment for New Albany residents that the Foundation has been involved in the Riverfront Amphitheater events. It is good for the city and county to have patrons enjoying the heart of the city and reconnecting with our river heritage. We believe this helps economic revitalization.

As developers and city and county leaders talk about the second phase of Scribner Place, now is the time for the entire community to encourage the political forces which can make or break such initiatives to be visionary and bold in their leadership. No one likes to spend money in this economy, but to continue to grow we must make sure the infrastructure is there to promote development. This community needs to brand itself as forward thinking, innovative with assets which will attract quality businesses.

The river and outstanding geography of the community remind us of the need to be “green” and environmentally conscious. We need to continue to develop bicycle lanes, and expand fitness opportunities. Our parks and the Greenway need to be pristine resources which will attract families and businesses to the community. There is much work to be done, but this community is up for the task. A wise decision was made with the YMCA. Let’s keep making wise decisions for the good of the community.

— Jerry Finn, Executive Director, Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County, New Albany