LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

AUGUST 19, 2024, regular meeting

• Public comment
• Mayor’s report
• City administrator’s report
• Energy saving upgrades
• Council actions
• Council member comments
• Committee of the Whole
  
  

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren and Council Members Tony Cuda (council president), Davida Russell (vice president), Craig Cobb, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., Jim Petras, and Jim Posch. Also present were Clerk of Council Addie Balester, Law Director William Hanna, and City Administrator Danny Williams. The regular meeting ran for one and one-half hours

Public comment

Three residents spoke about the mayor’s allegations that some council members had violated Ohio’s Open Meetings Act. Some objected to his using city funds to hire outside legal counsel to investigate and urged all involved to take responsibility for mistakes, apologize, and focus on doing the city’s business. Two residents thanked the mayor for his comments earlier. A resident criticized the mayor for failing to reach an agreement with the school district for residents’ use of the high school swimming pool.

Mayor’s report

Mayor Seren announced the launch of the Crisis Assistance and Local Link program, embedding social workers with city police to respond to behavioral emergency calls. He said the Cain Park stramp would require relocation of the northeastern basketball court, the details of which are under discussion. He requested council’s Community Relations and Recreation Committee to explore this issue. He reported on the damage to the Heights Medical Building in the Cedar-Fairmount district [part of the roof molding and cornice collapsed]. No one was injured, building damage was modest, and business interruption was more limited than originally feared. He praised city staff who responded and said an inspection process is being developed for these kinds of building systems. The mayor said a variety of sources has provided funding to demolish the former Hillside Dairy on Warrensville Center Road. He noted the site’s importance in revitalizing the Noble Road corridor and praised Planning and Development Director Brian Iorio’s efforts in bringing together the necessary funding. He addressed the recent Plain Dealer editorial about his conflict with council, saying, “We all have some work to do.” He acknowledged his own communication mistakes with council and offered to meet weekly with the council president and monthly with each council member.

City administrator’s report

Mr. Williams reported that labor negotiations are underway with the police union, wellness programs for police have begun, and police equipment upgrades are underway. He gave brief updates from the planning department, on street projects, and on the Surrey Road garage repair. He briefly described the city’s Request for Expressions of Interests (RFEI) from developers for new and rehabbed housing.

Energy saving upgrades

Representatives from Leopardo Energy described developing a proposal for energy-saving repairs and upgrades to city facilities, which involved evaluating mechanical systems, roofs, building envelopes, and lighting. They also assessed project costs and financial and environmental benefits. 

Council actions

On first reading, as emergency measures, council appointed James Nemastil to the Landmark Commission and Lorna Rudolph to the Cedar-Lee Special Improvement District, Inc.’s Assessment Equalization Board.

Also on first reading and emergency, council authorized purchase of an X-TREME leaf vac mounted on a dual steer freightliner chassis from Best Equipment for the public works department’s streets division at a cost of no more than $298,795.61.

Council appointed Gail Larson to the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership Board of Trustees, on first reading and emergency.

On second reading and emergency, council established salary schedules, position classifications, and other compensation and benefits for city officers and employees.

On second reading and emergency, council appointed Carly Beck, Mohammad Irfan, and Sean Terry to the Climate and Environmental Sustainability Committee and Fern Haught, Gayle Lewin, and Sam Bell to the Transportation and Mobility Committee.

Items presented on first reading (with no vote) included: 

• An ordinance authorizing an energy savings performance contract with Leopardo Energy and the financing of energy conservation improvements.
• Confirmation of the mayor’s appointments of Tony Sias to the Arts Commission and Kory Clark and India L. Birdsong Terry to the Community Improvement Corporation.
  
  

Using a consent agenda, council recognized Sept. 2024 as National Service Dog Month and National Preparedness Month, Sept. 13-22 as Welcoming Week. Sept. 20 as Car Free Day and Park(ing) Day.

Council member comments

Ms. Larson explained that, at their Aug. 15 meeting, the Finance Committee discussed the 2025 budget process and the Racial Justice Task Force recommendations regarding mortgage and home repair lending in African-American neighborhoods. In September, the committee will discuss a survey to collect relevant data. The committee also discussed reactivating the Racial Justice Task Force.

Mr. Mattox urged development of systems and processes for collaboration within council. He also expressed support for investigating allegations that some members of council violated Ohio’s Open Meetings Act. 

Mr. Petras expressed concern about staff turnover and announced his plan to offer legislation to fund an anonymous climate workplace survey for city staff. He will also introduce legislation to encourage the mayor to update the employee handbook to clarify that city staff are not prohibited from talking to council members. He expressed concern about delays in providing ARPA funds for businesses, previously allocated by council. He criticized the mayor for not following through on council’s authorization to negotiate residents’ use of the high school swimming pool. Mr. Petras said the Housing and Building Committee is discussing housing related recommendations from the Racial Justice Task Force and receiving an overview from Allan Butler, director of housing programs, about housing inspections.

Mr. Posch described the Open Meetings Act violations investigation as a “witch hunt” that should stop. He also expressed appreciation for Mayor Seren’s “olive branch,” offering regular meetings with all council members and urged development of a roadmap for council’s collaboration with the administration.

Ms. Russell said she is gathering additional information about dog park safety issues and will soon schedule another public hearing.

Mr. Cuda noted the death of Gus Frangos, head of the Cuyahoga Land Bank, praising his work developing the Western Reserve Land Conservancy and state land bank legislation. He described his and Vice President Russell’s meetings with the mayor and City Administrator Williams as productive and offered to continue them. He claimed that the cleveland.com article regarding allegations of open meeting violations by some council members was inaccurate and explained that former Council Member Mike Ungar has offered to represent Cuda, Larson, Petras, and Russell at no charge and that he and Ms. Russell have offered to meet with Mayor Seren to resolve this issue.

Committee of the whole

Council members discussed the process for council’s participation in development projects involving city-owned property.

Jeffry Harris, Bricker-Graydon law firm, the city’s new ARPA counsel, gave an overview of broad categories of eligible uses of ARPA funds and described the status of city and non-profit projects. Mr. Posch urged an analysis of ARPA problems and delays. Mr. Petras and Ms. Russell requested an explanation of the application process and deadlines for obligating the $1.2 million allocated for businesses. Ms. Larson requested status updates at each council meeting. Mr. Mattox urged council to discuss council-initiated projects. Members discussed alternatives, such as road projects, if the original uses could not meet deadlines for obligating funds.

Members discussed whether to engage legal counsel to represent them in the investigation of alleged Open Meetings Act violations. Mr. Cuda explained that he and Vice President Russell had offered to meet with the mayor to de-escalate the situation. Cuda, Larson, Posch, Russell, and Petras agreed that counsel should be hired. Cobb explained that he was troubled by the use of city resources and would prefer the matter be resolved without involving lawyers. Mattox explained that council itself needs a culture of collaboration, not leaving some members out of discussions and decisions, and that external solutions will not solve these internal problems. Law Director Hanna explained that council would need to pass a resolution in order to hire counsel. 

LWV observer: Jill Tatem

Meeting packets, legislation, and other information can be found on the city website at: https://www.clevelandheights.gov/1625/City-Council-Agendas-and-Minutes

Videos of council meetings can be viewed on the “City of Cleveland Heights, OH” YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/ClevelandHeightsOH