Three local politicians from different municipalities got together on June 17, at the invitation of FutureHeights and the League of Women Voters, to discuss with residents how Cleveland’s suburban governments can work together — or possibly merge — to share resources and revenues.



The panelists — South Euclid Mayor Georgine Welo, University Heights Councilman Kevin Patrick Murphy and Cleveland Heights Councilman Mark Tumeo — brought different perspectives to the table, though all agreed there was a need for further collaboration among their governments.



Several of the participants cited a poll released in January that found 82 percent of residents of the 16-county Northeast Ohio region favor increased collaboration between local governments. The poll was conducted by Cleveland State and Wright State universities' urban affairs departments and sponsored by The Fund for our Economic Future.

Tumeo took the podium first, and introduced the idea of a merger between University Heights and Cleveland Heights, which already share a school district. Basing his argument on a “business model,” Tumeo argued that Northeast Ohio has been steadily losing population, leaving local governments straining to maintain even basic services such as police, fire and waste removal, due to declining revenue. 



Although he did suggest merging townships or individual departments as one way to increase revenue sources, Tumeo admitted that hammering out the details of such a plan would be difficult.



“If you merge the fire department, who does the fire chief report to?” he asked rhetorically.



Murphy, however, emphasized the need for “baby steps” in undertaking any sort of collaboration effort.



“We need to get smart,” said Murphy, explaining that University Heights will soon face a budget deficit and “the day is coming where the street may not be paved, it may not be plowed and the garbage may not be picked up.”

Murphy’s recommendations were to streamline and share accounting systems among local governments, coordinate negotiations of union contracts and share infrastructure like fire stations with neighboring communities.

When Welo took the podium, she emphasized the need for “building blocks for change,” and said that though collaboration will happen, politicians must build trust among their constituents for it to go smoothly.



Welo offered examples of collaboration projects she has already undertaken as mayor, including sharing animal warden services with neighboring cities and attempting to build a shared recreation center that multiple cities can use.

She also spoke about the need for “growth boundaries,” or preventing the flight of locally based corporate offices and industries to outer suburbs, to keep jobs in the inner-ring suburbs.



The well-attended meeting lent itself to a lively question and answer session, when residents questioned the panelists about tax abatement, green space and the difficulties of working out the details behind collaboration. 



“There is a fear of loss of control,” said Tumeo in response to questions about what the merger would mean for local politics and voting processes.

However, all three panelists agreed that change was necessary, and that it had to start with changing people’s attitudes about government collaboration.



Welo said that through “trust, effort and positive thinking,” a hesitant public could ultimately see that sharing resources is better for everyone involved.



Kaitlin Bushinski is a recent Oberlin College graduate and an intern with the Heights Observer.