A ‘mind for the important things’
If the County Council had a protocol expert or an official historian, either job would no doubt fall to Councilman Bryan McIntire.
McIntire, the council’s lone Republican, has fashioned himself a reputation on the council in both these areas.
Want to know the origin of the flag that looks like a Maryland flag with a Union Jack inset in the upper left-hand corner? McIntire is your man. Want to know the proper placement of the U.S. flag? Again, ask the councilman.
And while it was surprising to hear that the state and county seals in the council’s chambers contain mistakes, it was not a shock that McIntire knew it.
McIntire explained the errors to a group of Boy Scouts who attended a recent council voting session and opened the proceedings up by leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Turns out that the state seal that hangs behind where the seven councilmen sit is not historically accurate. The error lies in “that fellow holding the fish up with his head turned as if it smells,” McIntire explained. (Click on the photo to enlarge.)
In the official seal, the man faces forward and the fish is held down at the side of his leg “because fish are heavy,” 
McIntire joked with the Scouts.
The county seal that hangs in the back of the chamber (seen here on the right) also is in error. The errors are in the two black and yellow quarter sections of the coat of arms.
In the upper quarter the lower left corner should be all yellow rather than the alternating black and yellow pattern. In the lower quarter section, the upper right corner should be all black. (an accurate representation can be found here.)
“It shows you I have a mind for the important things,” a smiling McIntire said to a reporter.