University Heights City Council meeting highlights 11-21-11
NOVEMBER 21, 2011
- Police and fire personnel
- Mutual Aid Agreement with JCU
- Assistant clerk of council
- Emergency services billings
Mayor Susan Infeld was absent.
Police and fire personnel
Council passed ordinances requiring that members of the police and fire departments live in either Cuyahoga County or an adjacent county.
Mutual Aid Agreement with JCU
A Mutual Aid Agreement with John Carroll University (JCU) for the provision of police services was presented on first reading. Police Chief Hammett explained that the agreement would provide additional resources within a Mutual Aid Agreement area outside the university’s boundaries, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. Councilman Bullock stated that the Safety Committee met with the mayor and police chief to review the agreement and recommends its passage. UHPD would remain the primary law enforcement agency responsible for investigating felony and misdemeanor offenses within University Heights, including the Agreement Area. JCU police would provide assistance upon request. JCU police have authority to handle minor misdemeanors, but not felonies. Councilman Sims asked for more information about what constitutes the Mutual Aid Agreement area. It applies to the campus, Gesu Parish and properties, and “the annex,” which includes specific houses on surrounding streets. The law director will also look at clarifying the area boundaries to avoid confusion.
Assistant clerk of council
With one dissenting vote council approved establishing the part-time position of assistant clerk of council with compensation up to $15 per hour depending on qualifications. The assistant clerk of council shall have the same rights as permanent part-time employees of the city. Councilman Murphy voted no but there was no discussion.
Emergency services billings
Councilman Bullock, Safety Committee chair, reported new guidelines for emergency services billings and collections. The Life Force agency will send letters to residents who have no insurance and high deductibles with a hope of collection, but no further action. Names of nonresidents who fail to respond to the letters will be sent to a collection agency. Indigents who can prove hardship will have their cases dropped. Finance Director Esarey looked into collection agencies and recommended First Federal Credit Control, which has a high success rate, although the 35 percent fee is 10 percent higher than others. First Federal will handle only those cases sent to them by Life Force, and will bill on what they collect. No vote was required as this is an administrative function.
LWV observer: Patricia C. Solomon.
These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Anne McFarland, 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.