University Heights City Council–meeting highlights

DECEMBER 21, 2009

All council members present.

Mayor Rothschild’s final meeting

Mayor Rothschild reminisced about her 32 years as mayor of University Heights. She urged the incoming mayor and council to address issues that are still undone and for John Carroll University to see itself as part of the larger community.

Update on the Exception Report

Ebie Holst of the Northeast Ohio Sourcing Office explained that her company wanted to present the full report as a formal presentation in January instead of releasing it in written form now. Council members strongly opposed this delay. Having the full report would enable them to have questions prepared by January and would allow members who are stepping down next month to see the full report. Council members felt the summary provided to them was insufficient. Holst agreed that the report would be provided immediately to all council members.

Assessment of forests

Council accepted a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, and authorized an agreement for the 2009 Urban Tree Canopy Initiative. The initiative assesses forests through detailed satellite imagery, thereby finding excessive impermeable surfaces and opportunities for mitigating storm water runoff. The cost to University Heights would be $3,663, to be paid from the Tree Fund. The lack of trees along Cedar and Warrensville was also discussed. One possible solution suggested was for the city to place trees in front yards instead of tree lawns.

Repairs

Building Commissioner David Menn announced that the chair lift repair would begin tomorrow. He also reported a $1,000 emergency repair to stop a water leak on the roof next to council’s chambers.

New rates

Acting Law Director Dennis Nevar announced the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s (NEORSD) proposed new rates for July 2010, and that NEORSD will implement a new regional storm water system.

Farewell messages

Vice Mayor Adele Zucker urged residents to attend meetings and become involved in the functions of University Heights. Councilman Steven Sims presented bouquets of roses to Beryl Rothschild and Adele Zucker, and a rose boutonniere to Peter Bernardo. Stephen Bullock spoke movingly about Mayor Rothschild’s 42 years of service to the community. Frankie Goldberg gave a tribute to the mayor by reading from Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You'll Go.”

New mayor

Susan Infeld will be sworn in officially as mayor on Jan. 1, 2010, but the formal swearing-in will take place at the Jan. 4, 2010 council meeting.

LWV observer: Wendy Deuring.

JANUARY 4, 2010

Students welcome new council members

Ashley Johnson, Emory Polley and Erin Jackson, students from Heights High, welcomed the new council members and wished them well.

Installation of new council members

Oaths of office were alternately administered by Judge K. J. Montgomery of the Shaker Heights Municipal Court and Judge Michael P. Donnelly of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.  Those installed were Mayor Susan K. Infeld and council members Phillip P. Ertel, Frankie D. Goldberg and Susan D. Pardee.

Council Member Frank Consolo nominated Frankie Goldberg for vice mayor. After a unanimous favorable vote she was sworn into office. All remaining officers and appointees were sworn into office. Building Commissioner David Menn will be leaving soon for a position in another city; his replacement will be William Mato.

Position of safety director

Councilman Steven Bullock challenged the tradition of the mayor appointing herself to the position of safety director. He contended that it was confusing for the mayor to wear two hats, and that the real issue was to find a way to pay the mayor an appropriate salary so that compensation would not depend on two separately funded functions. Mayor Infeld scheduled a special public meeting for Monday, Jan. 11 to discuss the matter. 

Reappointment of Anthony Ianiro

The council unanimously reappointed Anthony Ianiro as director of finance on a part-time basis. Councilman Steven Sims said he was grateful for Ianiro’s willingness to continue part-time.

Strengths and challenges for the city

Mayor Infeld described University Heights as a city filled with comfortable, affordable homes, a place with easy access to parks and concerts, close proximity to University Circle, John Carroll University, public transit, and a variety of schools. The main challenge she saw was foreclosures. To address this challenge, she hopes to increase efficiency and service by instituting Web payment for residents, extending City Hall hours a couple of days a week, and bringing back the dormant Communications and Development Committee.

LWV observer: Carol Gibson.

These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports.The summaries have been edited and prepared by Anne McFarland, Marilyn McLaughlin, Charlene Morse and Maryann Barnes. To receive e-mail postings of full reports, send an e-mail to mbarnes9515@gmail.com or join through google groups using “lwv-chuh observer reports” as a search phrase. 

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

Read More on University Heights
Volume 3, Issue 2, Posted 12:56 PM, 01.19.2010