MONDAY, OCTOBER 6

(All council members present)

Tribute to Oliver Schroeder

Mayor Edward Kelley asked for a moment of silence for Oliver Schroeder, who passed away recently. Schroeder had served on city council from 1956 to 1977, including one term as mayor. Kelley pointed out that Schroeder’s leadership helped keep the city viable when it chose to be integrated and diverse.

Heights Youth Club

Council granted a request to change the original zoning permit for the Heights Youth Club to allow all students enrolled in CH-UH Schools to join the club. Earlier in the meeting, Joel Borwick, owner of Seitz-Agin Hardware and Heights Youth Club board member, and Roscoe Morgan, Youth Club director, addressed Council extoling the club’s successes. Borwick pointed out that 72% of club members who regularly participated in Project Learn, an academic program at the club, completed the final grading period of the 2007-2008 school year on the honor or merit rolls. Representing the club and its board, Borwick maintained that all students attending CH-UH schools should be given the same opportunity to join the club. [Under conditions of the original zoning permit, only students residing in Cleveland Heights had been permitted to participate.]

Community Development Block Grants

Council authorized the submission of the Community Development Block Grant application for the year beginning January 1, 2009. Should the application be successful, Council would apportion funds ($1,550,893 for 2008) among community organizations according to recommendations of the Citizens Advisory Committee. Councilman Mark Tumeo advised nonprofits that block grants could be wiped out if the city’s population fell below 50,000.

Boarded up houses

Council passed an ordinance requiring that boards on all boarded-up houses be painted in the color of the house or trim within five days. Tumeo noted that this practice made “a very big difference,” leading Councilman Ken Montlack to comment, “There are times when you can put lipstick on a pig.”

Federal foreclosure program

To address foreclosures and vacant housing, Congress passed the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Grant to distribute about $3.9 billion to states and other local entities for housing rehabilitation and homeowner assistance. Councilman Montlack noted that the city would be working on this diligently and that Kim Steigerwald, director of planning and development for the city, had done a masterful job analyzing the criteria.

“Green” efforts

Councilmember Bonnie Caplan pointed out that the city’s efforts to be “green,” by fitting diesel vehicles with pollution controls and implementing a no-idle policy for drivers, were rewarded with a $5,000 grant from the Ohio Environmental Council to purchase diesel emission controls.

LWV Observer: Kay Heylman
***

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20

All council members present.

Dissolution of Cable Television Commission

Director of Finance/Clerk of Council Thomas Malone reported that the Cable Television Commission had submitted a resolution to dissolve itself, subject to reconstitution by Council should the commission’s services again be required. Council later passed an ordinance dissolving this commission. Before the vote was taken, Councilman Dennis Wilcox explained that a state law now required that local cable programs be addressed at the state level. The commission delayed requesting disbandment until they were sure the State was responding well to local questions and complaints. Wilcox thanked Assistant Law Director Bill Hannah and commission members, Jonathon Goldman, James Castello, and Stephen Titchenal for their consistently excellent work. Councilman Ken Montlack thanked Law Director John Gibbon for the expertise in telecommunication that got the commission going in the first place. Council members unanimously expressed regret over shuttering the commission as, “an all-out assault on Home Rule.”

Public Health Services

Council authorized the renewal of an agreement with the Cuyahoga County General Health District for public health services at an annual cost of $184,845. This agreement provides residents with a wide spectrum of services including flu shots, health screenings, pest control and school health inspections.

Annual Financial Legislation Requirements

Council approved two resolutions required annually. The first requested the County Auditor to advance taxes from the proceeds of the 2008 tax year collection. The second accepted the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission, authorized the necessary tax levies, and certified them to the County Auditor.

Paper shredding and leaves

Councilwoman Bonnie Caplan announced that Paper Shredding Day scheduled for residents had been postponed until spring because the company contracted did not have a shredder available. Also, after November, leaves should be placed in yard bags for pick-up.

Congratulations to Superintendent Delisle

Councilman Wilcox praised Deb Delisle, superintendent of the CH-UH City School District, for her appointment as Ohio’s superintendent of schools and Mayor Edward Kelley wished her the best in her new position.

LWV Observers: Carol Gibson and Blanche Valancy

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6

Bonnie Caplan excused.

Tribute to Marjorie Wright

Mayor Edward Kelley asked for a moment of silence in honor of Marjorie Wright, who died Oct. 23. A member of City Council from 1966 to 1981, Wright served as mayor from 1976 to 1979 during which time Cleveland Heights won an All-American City award.

Barriers installed by businesses

A citizen communicated her concern with the various types of barriers installed by businesses for protection. She claimed that they suggested criminal activity and did not send a good message.

Natural gas supplier

City Manager Bob Downey urged all residents to consider the options in choosing a natural gas supplier. Because the city had to commit to a supplier during the summer months when rates were higher, the city’s aggregation program may not provide the least expensive option.

Yellowstone Road water main

Council authorized contracting with Mackay Engineering & Surveying for services associated with the Yellowstone Road Water Main and Resurfacing Project at a cost not to exceed $17,911. The entire cost would be paid through the city’s block grant fund.

Zoning code amendments

Ordinances amending the city’s zoning code were introduced. Public hearings on these ordinances will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 8 and at the Planning Commission meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 in council chambers. Two of the proposed amendments call for specifying minimum yard requirements for free standing air conditioning and other machinery in multiple family districts and for limiting the size of instructional signs to 10 feet. Another seeks to amend the zoning code to designate automobile sales and rentals and gasoline stations as conditional uses in C-3 Districts and to prohibit automobile rentals in C-2 Districts. Another proposes a new subsection to permit occasional garage and yard sales, a maximum of two a year, lasting no more than three consecutive calendar days, and restricted to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with only one sign advertising the sale.

LWV Observer: Kay Heylman.

These reports contain member observation and selected highlights of public meetings and are not official statements of the League of Women Voters-Cuyahoga Area, Heights Chapter. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.

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Meeting summaries have been edited and prepared by Charlene Morse, Marilyn McLaughlin and Maryann Barnes.