Cleveland Heights

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

• Public comments
• Clerk of council
• Mayor’s report
• Racial Justice Task Force
• Union agreement
• Legislation presented
• Lead-safe ordinance
• Council member comments
• Committee of the whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Council Vice President Craig Cobb was not present. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for one and three-fourth hours.

AUGUST 22, 2022 - special meeting

• Clerk of council
• Other council action
• Committee of the whole

Present were Council Members Melody Joy Hart (council president), Craig Cobb (vice president), Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell, as was Law Director William Hanna. Mayor Kahlil Seren was not present. The meeting ran 12 minutes.

AUGUST 15, 2022 - regular meeting

• Public comments
• Mayor’s report
• Charter amendment
• Other council actions
• Consent agenda. 
• Council member comments on charter amendment
• Other council member comments
• Committee of the whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren and Council Members Melody Joy Hart (council president), Craig Cobb (vice president), Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell, as was Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran for one and one-half hours.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 has designated $38.8 million to the city of Cleveland Heights.

To date, the city has allocated ARPA funds to: lost revenue ($10 million), sewer repair ($18 million), first responders ($460,000), local businesses ($1 million), Noble Road ($2 million), and Taylor Road ($2 million).

The remaining balance ($4.54 million) could be spent in a variety of ways. The city of Cleveland Heights has posted a survey on its website, asking residents to weigh in on where they would like those funds to be used.

JULY 7, 2022 - special and executive meetings

• Public comments
• Mayor’s comments
• Passed on first readings
• Classification change of safety chiefs

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council Vice President Craig Cobb and Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Josie Moore, Council President Melody Joy Hart and Council Member Davida Russell were not present. Also present was Law Director William Hanna. The regular public meeting ran for 50 minutes following an executive session.

AUGUST 8, 2022 - special meeting

This meeting included emergency legislation and an executive session to consider the terms of sale or lease of city-owned property.

Present were Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Josie Moore. Davida Russell was not present.

Council actions

Council approved implementation of the public services plan for the Cedar-Fairmount Special Improvement District (SID). This allows collection of $120,000 annually from property owners in the SID for marketing, beautification, maintenance, economic development, and physical improvements.

AUGUST 1, 2022 - regular meeting

• Public comments
• Mayor’s report
• Council action
• First readings without a vote
• Council member comments
• Committee of the whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Jose Moore, and Davida Russell. Also present was Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran one hour and 18 minutes. 

JUNE 27, 2022, special meeting and executive session

• Mayor’s report
• Staff presentations
• Council actions

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Council President Melody Joy Hart and Council Member Tony Cuda participated remotely. Also present was Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran two and one half hours. An executive session was convened to consider the terms of a sale or lease of city-owned property.

JUNE 21, 2022

• Public comments - agenda items
• Public comments - general
• Mayor’s report
• Council actions on second reading
• Passed on first reading
• First readings, no vote
• Community block grants
• Committee reports
• Council member comments
• Committee of the whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Also present was William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran a little over an hour and 20 minutes.

With the expansion of the Park Synagogue building in Pepper Pike well underway, the future of the historic 1947 “Park Main” property and its iconic sanctuary building in Cleveland Heights remains an open question. [The congregation announced a year ago that the Cleveland Heights landmark was for sale.]

Located in a heavily wooded site between Mayfield Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard, east of Taylor Road, Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights was designed by internationally renowned architect Eric Mendelsohn and is considered one of the premier examples of modern religious architecture in the United States.

JUNE 6, 2022

• Public comments - agenda items
• Other public comments
• Mayor’s report
• Horseshoe Lake presentation
• Council actions
• First reading of legislation, no vote
• Council member comments
• Committee of the whole (COW)

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Also present was Laurie Wagner, representing the law department. Mr. Cobb functioned as clerk pro temp.

MAY 23, 2022 – special meeting regarding clerk of council

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Also present were Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. Council President Melody Joy Hart joined the meeting virtually. The meeting was five minutes long.

Clerk of council

Council approved a job description, compensation, and job posting for clerk of council. They approved a salary grade 19 and salary range from $51,542 to $77,313.

MAY 16, 2022

• Public comments
• Staff reports
• Horseshoe Lake Dam Project
• Council actions
• Council member comments
• Committee of the whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Also present were Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting lasted one and two-thirds hours.

Public comments

Four residents opposed the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District Horseshoe Lake Dam project, citing the value of the lake to migratory birds and the health value of bodies of water, and challenging the severity of the flood risk. One resident praised the public engagement plan. Another questioned the lack of publicly available detailed data that had informed the plan. 

Cleveland Heights launched its new, automated refuse and recycling collection program in mid-April, distributing thousands of new refuse and recycling carts to every residence in the city. By now, all residents should have received their carts, and begun using them.

The program's benefits go beyond making the city's streets cleaner and more attractive. Automated collection is a single-sort recycling system, in which one must only determine whether an item is recyclable and place it in the appropriate cart—no extra sorting is necessary.

Automated collection is faster, more efficient, and safer for city employees, too, and should help reduce the environmental impact of Cleveland Heights’ waste.

The green cart is for garbage going to the landfill. EVERYTHING that goes in the green cart should be in a trash bag.

The blue cart is for recyclables. Recyclables should NEVER be put in bags.

The following is a list of items that are, and are not, recyclable in Cleveland Heights. To search additional items, visit www.cuyahogarecycles.org.

RECYCLABLES

Plastic bottles and jugs
Aluminum cans
Steel/tin cans
Newspapers
Cardboard
Mixed office paper and junk mail
Glass bottles and jars 

NON-RECYCLABLES 

Butter/margarine containers
Clamshells

On May 2, Mayor Kahlil Seren and Cleveland Heights City Council members honored Susanna Niermann O'Neil on her last day of work for the city, and thanked her for her 46 years of service.

Niermann O'Neill began working at CH City Hall in 1976; the building's atrium has now been renamed in her honor.

From left to right: CH Council Member Tony Cuda, Council Member Josie Moore, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, Council President Melody Joy Hart, retired CH City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, CH Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council Member Anthony Mattox Jr., Council Member Gail Larson, and Council Member Davida Russell.

MAY 2, 2022

• Public comments
• Mayor’s report
• Clerk of council report
• Actions passed on first reading
• Passed on second readings 
• Purchases approved on second reading
• Taylor Tudor Plaza
• Declarations
• Committee reports and member comments
• Council president’s report
• Susanna Niermann O’Neil

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil (performing clerk duties in Ms. Himmelein’s absence) and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran about one hour and five minutes.

APRIL 18, 2022

• Public comments
• Denison Park splash pad
• New police officers
• National Poetry Month
• First readings
• Street assessments
• Executive session permission
• Appointments
• Council member comments
• Committee of the whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. Council Vice President Craig Cobb was absent. The meeting ran from 7:30 to 8:48 p.m.

APRIL 4, 2022 - regular meeting

• Public comments
• New police chief
• Mayor’s report
• Budget amendment
• First readings, no vote
• NOPEC grants
• Consent agenda
• Council member comments

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting lasted 45 minutes.

MARCH 14, 2022 - special meeting on ARPA consultant

Present were, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Anthony Mattox, Jr.as were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. Mayor Kahlil Seren and Council President Melody Joy Hart were absent. The meeting was 17 minutes long. 

MARCH 14, 2022 - special meeting on ARPA consultant

Present were, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Anthony Mattox, Jr.as were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. Mayor Kahlil Seren and Council President Melody Joy Hart were absent. The meeting was 17 minutes long. 

MARCH 21, 2022 - regular meeting

• Public comments
• Staff reports
• Down Payment Assistance Loan Program
• City administrator
• Employee compensation, benefits, etc. 
• American Rescue Plan Act consultant
• Budget amendments
• Cain Park
• NOPEC Energized Community Grant Program
• Other council actions 
• Council member comments
• Committee of the whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Josie Moore. Staff members attending were Susanna Niermann O’Neill, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council; and William Hanna, law director. Davida Russell was excused. The meeting ran 35 minutes.

On Dec. 6, 2021, Cleveland Heights City Council unanimously approved a development agreement with Flaherty & Collins (F&C) to build a mixed-use development in the Cedar Lee Business District. The agreement was signed by the city and the developer on Dec. 9. F&C is working with City Architecture to design the project. On March 2, the team’s proposal received final design approval from the city’s Architectural Board of Review (ABR).

The development comprises two city-owned parcels (approximately 5 acres total): the Meadowbrook site, a 1.07-acre plot of land between Lee Road, Meadowbrook Boulevard, and Tullamore Road; and the larger Cedar-Lee site, which encompasses the existing parking lot and parking garage between Tullamore and Cedar roads, behind the Lee Road businesses on that block.

At the March 21 Cleveland Heights City Council meeting, council members voted 6-0 to confirm Mayor Kahlil Seren’s appointment of Joseph Sinnott, a former mayor of Erie, Pa.,  to the position of city administrator. (Council Member Davida Russell was not present at the meeting.)

Seren announced his appointment of Sinnott in a March 4 news release from the city. At city council’s May 7 meeting, Seren formally proposed a resolution, on first reading, asking council to confirm Sinnott’s appointment.

On March 14, city council conducted a public interview with Sinnott during its Committee of the Whole meeting.

On March 4, the city of Cleveland Heights announced that Mayor Kahlil Seren had selected Joseph E. Sinnott, a former mayor of Erie, Pa., to be the city's first city administrator. At the March 7 Cleveland Heights Council Committee of the Whole meeting, Seren formally proposed a resolution, on first reading, asking city council to confirm Sinnott's appointment.

Council President Melody Joy Hart stated that, per the city's charter, and unlike other administrative hires, council is charged with approving this position. She recommended that council announce its decision at its March 21 meeting, and asked Seren's office to reach out to Sinnott, to schedule an interview with council in advance of that date. All council members agreed that an in-person interview would be preferable to a virtual one.

In a March 4 press release, Mike Thomas, new director of communications for the city of Cleveland Heights, announced the following:

"Mayor Kahlil Seren has notified Cleveland Heights City Council members that he will present to them for approval his appointment for the position of City Administrator – Joseph E. Sinnott. City Administrator is a new position created as part of Cleveland Heights’ transition to a strong-mayor form of government, and if approved, Sinnott would be the first person to fill this role. In accordance with Cleveland Heights’ City Charter, City Council must confirm any appointment to the City Administrator position.

MARCH 7, 2022 - regular meeting

• Public comments
• Staff reports
• City administrator
• Made Cleveland, LLC
• Salaries/position classifications for city officers and employees
• Other council actions 
• Council member comments
• Next/upcoming meetings

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Staff members attending included Susanna Niermann O’Neill, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council; and William Hanna, law director. 

FEBRUARY 22, 2022 - Regular Meeting

• Public comments
• Charter amendment
• Budget amendment
• Park Initiative
• Medicare for All
• Committee of the Whole
• Council member comments

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Staff members attending included Susanna Niermann O’Neill, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council; and William Hanna, law director.

In cities like Cleveland Heights and University Heights, so often praised for being “walkable,” how do we see pedestrian safety being addressed, discussed, and prioritized? In her nonfiction book Right of Way: Race, Class and the Silent Crisis of Pedestrian Deaths in America, Cleveland-based journalist Angie Schmitt shines a spotlight on social inequities revealed by pedestrian accidents and pedestrian deaths.

According to the book’s publisher, Island Press, “[These accidents] don’t happen because of jaywalking or distracted walking. They are predictable, occurring in stark geographic patterns that tell a story about systemic inequality. These deaths are the forgotten faces of an increasingly urgent public-health crisis that we have the tools, but not the will, to solve.”

Last year, several Heights organizations hosted conversations about race and equity in our community.

At its Feb. 7 meeting, Cleveland Heights City Council appointed Gail Larson to the seat vacated by Kahlil Seren, who was sworn in as mayor on Jan. 3. The appointment runs through Dec. 31, 2022. Seren's full unexpired term runs through Dec. 31, 2023. The last year of it will be on the ballot in November 2022. Larson said she plans to run for the seat in that election, to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term.

The timing of the appointment came as a bit of a surprise, even to Larson, who happened to be at the council meeting.

Council Member Tony Cuda said that Larson was a “great choice,” but noted that, while council had discussed applicants in executive session just prior to its public meeting, there was no guarantee that council would agree on a candidate that evening. When the vote was taken, however, council unanimously voted in favor of appointing Larson.

FEBRUARY 7, 2022 - Regular Meeting

• Public comments
• Mayor’s report
• Clerk of council report
• Gail Larson appointed
• Cedar/Lee/Meadowbrook
• Other council actions
• Council member comments

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Anthony Mattox, Jr. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran one hour and six minutes.

JANUARY 18, 2022 – Regular meeting

• Public comments
• Mayor’s report
• Council action
• Council member comments
• Committee of the Whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Anthony Mattox, Jr. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director.

JANUARY 10. 2022 – Regular Meeting

• Public comments
• Mayor’s report
• Liquor permit
• Park ballot initiative
• Council committees
• Other council action
• Council member comments

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and council members Tony Cuda, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Anthony Wilcox. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting began at 7:38 p.m. and ended at 8:20 p.m.

Cleveland Heights City Council could decide at its Feb. 7 meeting whether to adopt, amend, or reject a citizen-led initiative to require the city to construct a park on the city-owned site at Lee Road and Meadowbrook Boulevard. That decision could determine whether the initiative will appear on the May 3 primary ballot.

At the Jan. 10 city council meeting, CH Finance Director and Clerk of Council Amy Himmelein certified that an initiative petition for an ordinance to require a public activity park be created on 1.07 acres of city-owned land at the corner of Lee Road, Tullamore Road and Meadowbrook Boulevard had obtained sufficient signatures for inclusion on the ballot.

A group of Cleveland Heights residents, led by Ralph Solonitz, Garry Kanter, Lee Barbee, Albert Oberst and Frances Mentch, had submitted the petition to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Nov. 29, but were told to collect additional signatures by Dec. 27. The group submitted additional signatures, and, on Jan. 9, the board determined that the initiative had met the 10 percent requirement for inclusion on the ballot.

A citizen-led proposal to designate the city-owned site at Lee Road and Meadowbrook Boulevard as a public park is one step closer to appearing on the May 3 primary ballot.

At the Jan. 10 meeting of Cleveland Heights City Council, CH Finance Director and Clerk of Council Amy Himmelein certified that an initiative petition for an ordinance to require a public activity park be created on 1.07 acres of city-owned land at the corner of Lee Road, Tullamore Road and Meadowbrook Boulevard had obtained sufficient signatures for inclusion on the ballot.

A group of Cleveland Heights residents, led by Ralph Solonitz, Garry Kanter, Lee Barbee, Albert Oberst and Frances Mentch, had submitted the petition to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Nov. 29, but had been told to collect additional signatures by Dec. 27.

JANUARY 3, 2022 – Regular Meeting

• Clerk of council report
• Council action
• Council member comments

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, and council members Craig Cobb, Tony Cuda, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Anthony Mattox, Jr. Council Member Josie Moore was excused. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. Council met for about one and a quarter hour.

DECEMBER 20, 2021 – Regular meeting

• Public comments
• City manager’s comments
• Council actions
• Council members’ comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Melody Joy Hart was home due to COVID and, while unable to vote, participated in the discussion by phone. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. Council met for about one and a quarter hour.

DECEMBER 13, 2021 – Special Meeting

• Public comments
• Desota Avenue infill construction

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Melody Joy Hart was absent due to illness. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. Council met for five minutes.

With Kahlil Seren, a Cleveland Heights City Council member, set to become the city's mayor in January, his council seat will become vacant upon his resignation, which was expected to be tendered on Dec. 31.

On Nov. 29, a special meeting of the Cleveland Heights Council Committee of the Whole brought together some current council members, as well as those who will begin serving on council in January, to discuss “vacancy-filling procedures in anticipation of vacancy resulting from Kahlil Seren’s election as [m]ayor.”

Subsequent to the meeting, the city announced that council would accept applications from residents interested in being considered for the council vacancy.

The deadline to apply was Dec. 17, and there were 22 applicants. Since the January issue of the Heights Observer went to press, the applicants' names and applications have been posted on the city's website. Because one of the applicants dropped out, there are 21, not 22, names and applications posted online.

With Kahlil Seren, a current Cleveland Heights City Council member, set to become the city's mayor, his council seat will become vacant in January.

On Nov. 29, a special meeting of the Cleveland Heights Council Committee of the Whole brought together current council members, as well as those who will begin serving on council in January, to discuss “vacancy-filling procedures in anticipation of vacancy resulting from Kahlil Seren’s election as [m]ayor.”

Subsequent to the meeting, the city announced that council would be accepting applications from residents interested in being considered for the council vacancy.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Dec. 17. The application is available at www.clevelandheights.com/CouncilApplication.

NOVEMBER 29, 2021 – special meeting

• Public comments
• Cedar-Lee Meadowbrook resolution
• Committee of the whole
• Council vacancy

Present were Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Melody Joy Hart, Josie Moore, and Michael Ungar. President Jason Stein and Davida Russell were excused. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting was 18 minutes. 

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 – special meeting

• Public comments
• City boards and commissions
• NEORSD Horseshoe Lake proposal
• Other council action

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar.  Josie Moore was absent. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran for one hour and ten minutes.

NOVEMBER 15, 2021 - regular meeting

• Josie Moore sworn in
• Public comments
• Legislation passed on emergency
• Legislation presented with no vote
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Melody Joy Hart, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil,  and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran from 8:10 to 9:48 p.m.

NOVEMBER 1, 2021 – regular meeting

• Public comments
• City manager’s report
• Council action
• Consent agenda

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Vice President, Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Melody Joy Hart, and Davida Russell. Michael N. Ungar was absent. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting lasted a little over a half hour.

OCTOBER 18, 2021 – regular meeting

• Public comments
• City manager’s report
• Council actions
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Vice President, Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Melody Joy Hart, and Davida Russell. Michael N. Ungar was absent. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting lasted a little over a half hour.

A debate between Cleveland Heights first-ever mayoral candidates Barbara Danforth and Khalil Seren will stream live on YouTube on Tuesday, Oct. 12, from 7-8:40pm.

Presented by FutureHeights and the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland (LWVGC), and with support from Heights Libraries, the event will be moderated by John Carroll University political science professor Sara Schiavoni.   

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021- regular meeting

• Public comments
• City Hall still closed
• Budget legislation postponed
• Council member comments

Present were Kahlil Seren, council vice president; Craig Cobb; Melody Joy Hart; and Michael N. Ungar. Jason Stein, council president; and Davida Russell were absent.

Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager and Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director. The meeting was 15 minutes.

OCTOBER 4, 2021, regular meeting

• Public comments
• Council actions
• Council discussion of Start Right

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Also present were Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil attended the committee of the whole but not the public meeting. The public meeting lasted a little over an hour and commenced after an executive session that adjourned at 9 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 – regular meeting

• Public comments
• Lifesaving Award
• Energy rate agreements
• Council actions
• Council member comments

Present were Jason Stein, council president; Kahlil Seren, council vice president; Craig Cobb; Melody Joy Hart; and Michael N. Ungar. Davida Russell was absent. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting was about one hour and ten minutes.

Seven residents filed valid candidate petitions in the race for the unexpired CH City Council term, ending Dec. 31, 2023, that has been added to the Nov. 2 ballot.

The seven candidates are Erin C. Johnson, Garry Kanter, Robert Koonce, Josie Moore, Ellen M. Roth, Eric J. Silverman, and James A. Williams.

Other Cleveland Heights-specific races on city ballots on Nov. 2 are the following:

• Cleveland Heights mayor: The two candidates are Barbara Danforth and Kahlil Seren, based on unofficial primary election results (as of Sept. 15).
• Cleveland Heights City Council member, four-year term: The six candidates, for four council seats, are Lee Barbee II, Craig Cobb, Tony Cuda, Anthony Mattox Jr., Davida Russell, and Allosious K. Snodgrass.
• Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District Board of Education member: The seven candidates, for three board seats, are Mario Clopton-Zymler, Charles C. Drake, Dan Heintz, Malia Lewis, Maureen Lynn, Mordechai Rennert, and Jodi L. Sourini.

In the Sept. 14 primary election, Cleveland Heights residents cast their votes for one of three mayoral candidates. According to not-yet-official election results, the tally as of Sept. 15 showed Barbara Danforth in the lead, with 3,105 votes (about 47%), followed by Kahlil Seren with 2,555 (38%) and Melody Joy Hart with 1,007 (15%).

The top two finishers, Danforth and Seren, will face off in the general election on Nov. 2.

Voter turnout for Cleveland Heights' first mayoral primary election was low, with votes cast by fewer than 7,000 of the city's approximately 33,967 (as of Sept. 1) registered voters.

AUGUST 30, 2021, Special Meeting

• Public comments
• Council actions
• Proclamations

Present were Jason Stein, council president; Kahlil Seren, council vice president; Craig Cobb; Melody Joy Hart; Davida Russell; and Michael N. Ungar. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The public meeting was about one hour and 15 minutes, following an hour-long executive session to consider real estate matters.

AUGUST 25, 2021, special meeting to call a Special Election for a vacant council seat

Present were Jason Stein, president; Kahlil Seren, vice president; Craig Cobb; Melody Joy Hart; Davida Russell; and Michael N Ungar. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council; William Hanna, law director. The meeting lasted seven minutes.

AUGUST 16, 2021- Regular Meeting

• Public comments
• City manager report
• Council actions
• Mary Dunbar resigns
• Council member comments

Present were Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Council President Jason Stein was absent. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting lasted about an hour and ten minutes.

Cleveland Heights City Council announced on Aug. 25 that the seat left vacant by Mary Dunbar, who resigned Aug. 16, would be filled by way of a special election, to be held concurrently with the general election, on Nov. 2. Council had previously announced that it would appoint someone to fill the vacancy, and that it would be accepting applications beginning Aug. 17.

Council's Aug. 25 announcement, posted on the city's website (www.clevelandheights.com), states that authorization for the special election was made in consultation with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (BOE), and after a review of the city's charter.

Candidates who are interested in serving out the remainder of Dunbar's unexpired term, through Dec. 31, 2023, must file nominating petitions containing the signatures of at least 50, and no more than 150, "qualified electors" with the BOE by Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 4 p.m.

AUGUST 9, 2021 – Special joint session with Shaker Heights City Council re: Shaker Lakes

• NEORSD proposal
• Questions from council members and the public:
  • The need for Horseshoe Lake Dam demolition
  • Post project development
  • Role of the cities
  • Environmental considerations
  • Public input

Cleveland Heights Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, members Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Hart, Davida Russell and Michael Ungar were present. Council President Jason Stein was absent. Also present were Cleveland Heights City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Shaker Heights Mayor David Weiss, and four or five Shaker Heights council members.

Long-serving Cleveland Heights City Council Member Mary Dunbar resigned at council’s Aug. 16 meeting, effective immediately.

Dunbar stated that she had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, explaining, “When I was re-elected for a third four-year term on city council, in November of 2019, I expected to be serving on city council until 2024. Something unexpected has come up.” The rest of her statement follows:

“At the end of January 2020, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Ever since, I have been trying to understand the disease and how best to cope with it. I have studied up on Parkinson’s, done a lot of physical therapy, participated in three clinical trials, and started taking medicine for the disease this year.

On Thursday, Aug. 12, the Cleveland Heights Mayoral Forum, sponsored by the Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland (LWVGC), will now be held exclusively online. The LWVGC announced the change in response to the increase in COVID-19 cases.

The forum will take place 7–9 p.m., as originally scheduled, and can be livestreamed via YouTube: https://youtu.be/KIvJolHFIKc, or the bitly URL: https://bit.ly/CHMayor2021Aug12. The forum will be recorded for later viewing.

There will be no in-person audience for the virtual forum; only the candidates, moderator, tech support, and a limited number of LWV volunteers will be in the room.

It is with a heavy heart but clear eyes that I announce the suspension of my campaign for mayor of Cleveland Heights.

For a while now I have gone back and forth about whether staying in the race and pushing issues and ideas into the dialogue through the platform of a mayoral candidate was good for Cleveland Heights. And for a while, I believe it was. However, I no longer think that’s the case.

I ran for mayor because I wanted to present a cohesive, long-term, progressive vision for Cleveland Heights that prioritizes our people and our environment. I have watched so many elections in which the conversation around what’s at stake—and what’s possible—feels so limited. I wanted to be a candidate who would talk about issues that are on people’s minds but might not be treated as priorities in mainstream talking points.

AUGUST 2, 2021

• Public comments
• Staff reports
• Council action
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting lasted about an hour and a half.