LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights
DECEMBER 19, 2024, special meeting
- Public comment
- Mayor’s report
- Council actions
- Council member comments
- Open meetings violations
- 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 and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran for about three and one quarter hours.
Public comment
Nineteen speakers addressed dueling budget ordinances; a twelve-month budget was voted down six to one on Dec. 16, and a three-month budget was to be voted on this evening. Eight speakers favored the twelve-month and eleven favored the three-month.
Commenters endorsing or urging the three-month temporary budget cited council members’ unanswered questions, criticized the mayor’s management style, questioned his credibility, noted the level of staff resignations and open positions—especially at the top of the finance department, and complained about a prevalent combative attitude. Speakers noted that council has heard the concerns of worried city employees, there is enough money to cover the city’s payroll, and many cities routinely start with a temporary budget. Several speakers supporting the twelve-month budget were employees who expressed income insecurity and a feeling of disrespect from council, saying their actions possibly represent racism.
Mayor’s report
Mayor Seren was late to the meeting. He began by criticizing the power politics on display. He said that while the six council members supporting the three-month budget do not hate city employees, they don’t care about them.
Council actions
On first reading, council authorized change orders to two construction agreements: 1) with Fabrizi Trucking & Pavement as contractor for the CH-9, 32, 57, and 58 Sanitary Sewer Overflow* Control projects and 2) with JADCO Construction Services, Inc. for the Surrey-Lennox Garage repair project.
On first reading, council amended several ordinances related to city appropriations and other expenditures for the 2024 fiscal year. This final amendment of the 2024 budget was necessary to zero out any deficits at the end of the year. Distribution of the legislation just before the vote prompted discussion and questions for Willie Felts, the temporary finance director.
On first reading, council authorized and directed the mayor to enter into an agreement with Ciuni & Panichi, Inc. (C&P), the firm chosen by council to advise it on the budget. Mr. Mattox voted no, claiming that diversity was not considered in the search for a consultant, and that C&P had no experience doing the work required. Mr. Cuda said they had, and Mr. Cobb said the firm had excellent references. Mr. Posch had advocated this course of action, personally located the firm, and noted the need for a neutral third party to advise council.
On second reading, and on the recommendation of Reaching Heights, council substituted the scope of work for the ARPA grant to Reaching Heights to authorize execution of an agreement with Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District for a work-based learning program, in partnership with the Heights Career Tech Consortium, which provides vocational education for district students.
Council approved appropriations for city expenditures, i.e. the three-month budget, for Jan. 1 through March 31, 2025. Mr. Mattox voted no and claimed council could reach the same outcome with a 12-month budget. Finance Committee Chair Larson thanked the employees who spoke at this meeting and thanked Mr. Petras and Ms. Ballester for their hard work on this ordinance. Mr. Posch also thanked everyone for their work putting together this budget. He noted that a budget is an estimate of what will be needed and can be amended. He pointed out council’s track record of passing almost all of the administration’s requests and added that the fear felt by staff is coming from the mayor’s office. Mr. Petras thanked staff who spoke. He said he would prefer a 12-month budget, but the mayor’s version is unclear and incomplete. He looks forward to fleshing out a full budget. Mr. Cobb stated that until now he has supported every one of the mayor’s budget items, adding that he is not part of a faction. His concerns go deeper than unanswered questions, because approving or changing the budget is a power solely held by council. He said the proposed budget was put together by an overwhelmed finance department, whose interim director gave a two-week notice, which was not shared with council, and, at that point, the mayor should have engaged a major accounting firm with municipal experience. He concluded by noting the many “red flags” in this situation, including the fact that city employees spoke at the meeting in response to an email that pitted them against council. Ms. Russell stated she would support the temporary budget. Mayor Seren claimed that much of what has been said about the crafting of the budget was untrue.
Council member comments
Mr. Mattox thanked city employees for coming to speak at this meeting. He commented to the public that a lot has been exposed on both sides this evening and that not everyone is treated the same. He feels he is being minimized, possibly because he is young.
Mr. Cobb said members of the public can call him directly to schedule private conversations.
Ms. Russell said the discussions of racism and other attitudes are being repeated because next year is an election year, and are, in her opinion, not true. She expressed her appreciation of city staff and her wishes for the holidays and new year.
President Cuda concluded by saying everyone wants to make their own points, but council speaks by majority. He reiterated that payment of city salaries would not be interrupted.
Open meetings violations
Mr. Mattox inquired about the investigation into alleged open meetings infractions, transparency, and trust. He said council must revisit the need for training. Mr. Cuda said council leadership is still meeting with lawyers and will act once there is a plan. Law Director Hanna replied, when asked, that no litigation was pending.
Committee of the Whole
A Committee of the Whole meeting (one hour, 55 minutes) took place Wednesday, Dec. 18. Before consideration of a temporary budget, council interviewed Frank Eich from Ciuni & Panichi, a financial advising firm in Beachwood.
LWV observer: Blanche Valancy
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
*sanitary sewer overflow map is available at: https://www.clevelandheights.gov/557/Sanitary-Sewer-Overflow-Map-Page