And finally (at least for tonight), the sign ordinance idiocy:

First, let me state this: The problem is NOT with the ordinance, it is with Kohler’s selective enforcement of the ordinance: An obsolete or abandoned sign on a building that Kohler likes (or perhaps is owned by a crony) is okay--no matter how worn, dilapidated, dangerous or shoddy; while if a sign is on a building or business that Kohler feels is beneath the cozy, artsy, upper-crust, elite delusions of his twisted town view, then find a reason--ANY reason to demolish not only the sign but also the perfectly good, structurally sound, expensive to replace supporting structure!! (That’ll discourage any similar “dirty- fingernail” business venture from attempting to move another similar business into the same location.)

And Manger Gilleland: “Thousands” of zoning cases per year??? Please!!! Aren’t you exaggerating just a wee bit even at “hundreds’???

And we so often hear about how hard all of your dedicated city employees must work. Here’s another clue to giving them a break: Stop letting Kohler work them day and night eliminating/preventing every possible blue-collar employer either already in or showing an interest in our fair city!!!

Speaking of Cemetery Boards:

Please recall the entire brouhaha last fall over whether or not non-residents should be permitted to serve on city boards and commissions. As I recall, the most strident pro-non-resident council members based their argument on the fact that NO city resident had experience in actually operating a cemetery, therefore it was absolutely essential that Fred Wehr (a non-resident, but operator of Woodside Cemetery) be allowed to be appointed to the soon-to-be-established Cemetery Board.

Well, here it is--after the second meeting of January--and all five members of the Cemetery Board have been named.

Did I miss something??? Mr. Wehr’s name was nowhere to be found among the appointees!!!!

So, can you pro-non-resident council members run that argument by me again, please???

I saw that I couple of more people were appointed to the Cemetery Board last night.

I find it odd that for a citizen to make a comment at a City Council meeting, he or she must give his or her full name and address (and sometimes their horsepower, credit card number and secret sign, if Mayor Mulligan perceives them as hostile to any of his causes   ).

However, when Council appoints people to the various boards, commissions, and committees--some of which have czar-like powers over private property rights, as well as the powers to fine and imprison--a simple name will do.

This is obviously and simply WRONG. We have a right to know EXACTLY who it is that is being appointed to these boards and commissions, AND where they are from!!! They should be identified AT LEAST to the extent as required of a citizen wishing to comment at a council meeting--at a bare minimum!!!

Was I the only one who noticed Mayor Lawrence P. Mulligan, Jr. Holding up the local newspaper for a loooooonnnng screen shot by TVMiddletown (our “GOOD news ONLY" TV station)??? Could this be “payback” from the mayor to Cox Publishing for complying with City Hall's “good news only”, “positive newspaper” policy as outlined by the Master Plan Steering Committee???

Well, the front page, lead, headline story to which the mayor referred was a “good news, positive” feelie-good story that actually belonged back in the community or human interest section, rather than being the front page, headline story.  It was a few days old and wasn't actually new, let alone "headline news"!!!

How many times have we heard City Manager Gilleland preach about “community image”??? Didn’t we just hear her tonight moan about the need for “Improving community image” regarding the need for demolishing perfectly good sign structures simply because no business was currently occupying the building for which the sign structure is intended???

Yet Gilleland seems to be indifferent about our crumbling streets and the poor “community image” that that portrays. She let 2010 CBDG street paving funds go unspent, to carry over into this year.  I guess she just couldn't find any streets in Middletown that needed repaving last year

Oh well…we saw the groundwork being laid for those funds to be spent this year for the more expensive “OLDE TYME” street lights in Director Kohler’s favorite disadvantaged neighborhood: the S. Main Street HISTORIC District!!!

(You also could have read about the scheming by Director Kohler and his pals in the minutes of one of the Historic Commission meetings included in the workbook for last night’s meeting. Here‘s the link: http://www.cityofmiddletown.org/docs/council/01182011_w.pdf Look on page 45 of 124, under “Old Business“ in the 3^rd paragraph.)