LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / University Heights City Council meeting highlights

DECEMBER 2, 2024

• Public comments
• City council reports
• Directors’ reports
• Council actions
• Council committee reports
  
  

Present were council members Michele Weiss (vice-mayor), Christopher Cooney, Brian J. King, Threse Marshall, John P. Rach, Sheri Sax, and Win Weizer. Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan was excused. Also present were Clerk of Council Kelly Thomas, Law Director Bradric T. Bryan, Finance Director Dennis Kennedy, and City Engineer Brenda Mockbee. The meeting ran about two hours.

Public comments

A resident asked that council consult Sustainability Committee members as the city moves forward with plans for tree planting. University Heights has had a Tree City USA certification for many years, but requirements for that designation have changed. The commenter maintained that although the city has been grandfathered in for past compliance, it would make sense to update the city code to meet the new requirements, which require a standing committee. He also urged adoption of the transport plan recently discussed at a public meeting at the Noble Library. 

A resident who has frequently expressed concerns regarding Mayor Brennan said a new drive to recall the mayor has begun. A new petition is being circulated identical to the one that was withdrawn but with additional language asserting that the mayor used city resources for political and campaign purposes. The campaign hopes to obtain the required number of signatures to place the recall petition on the May 2025 primary ballot in order to avoid the $30,000 cost of holding a special election.

Another resident expressed the hope of directly engaging the mayor and spoke to his empty chair instead. He was planning to ask the mayor whether he would have made his social media posts, if he had known he would offend so many people.

City council reports

Vice-Mayor Weiss reported that council members participated in a retreat and a Committee of the Whole meeting where they engaged in robust discussion about the future of University Heights.

Directors’ reports

Finance Director Kennedy said he will present an appropriation amendment at the next meeting, as it must be filed with the county before the end of the year. The state paid $700,000 toward the manhole project in November.

Engineer Mockbee reported that the street projects on Kerwick and Claridge are almost complete, but warmer weather is needed to finalize them. She is waiting on the contractor before two-way traffic can resume on Silsby, where the water main is being repaired. 

Service Director Alan Pennington said leaf collection is continuing. 

There was no report from communications and civic engagement, but Ms. Saks inquired about the status of the University Heights Wrap-Up emailed newsletter, which she had not seen for several weeks. She was informed that the delay was due to a problem with Mail Chimp, the email software, and staff is working on the problem. 

Council actions

Council passed, on emergency, a resolution requesting the county budget commission to advance taxes from the proceeds of 2025 tax levies. This annual legislation must be filed with the county budget commission by Dec. 31, or the city would not receive tax proceeds until April, 2025. 

The appropriations and expenditures for the 2025 city budget were presented on first reading only (no vote). The budget is currently before council’s Finance Committee, which will meet twice to discuss it before the Dec 16 council meeting. Ms. Saks noted there was nothing in the budget regarding the video equipment for meetings. Mr. Kennedy said that he received the invoice, so it appears the contract was signed and thus no need for a budget item.

Council tabled a motion to renew health insurance for eligible city employees, because the renewal premium was quite high and Vice-Mayor Weiss wants to try to decrease it. Mr. Kennedy said he was trying to get an extension of the renewal date and another quote from the carrier. The health committee which comprises representatives from police, fire, and service departments is having quorum difficulties due to conflicting schedules of its members.

An ordinance to amend the mayor and safety director salaries was presented on second reading. After a robust discussion council voted to refer the ordinance to the Finance Committee with Council members Saks, Rach, and Weizer voting no. Ms. Weizer said council should not approve the mayor as safety director and that giving a portion of the mayor’s salary to the safety director would give the position more credence. Mr. King said citizens deserve a full-time mayor, so the full salary should go to the mayor’s position. Mr. Cooney said numerous cities have combined the salaries of the two positions, but none have the 50-50 split that University Heights does, and the split is not clearly defined in the charter. Vice Mayor Weiss said the goal of the amendment was to increase the mayor’s salary and if, in the future, council doesn’t approve a mayor’s safety director appointee then council can control the salary if not the appointment. If council declines to approve an appointee, the mayor serves as interim safety director. Ms. Saks requested job descriptions for mayor and safety director, but Law Director Bryan said specific descriptions are not in the charter. The discussion devolved into perceived deficiencies regarding the current mayor although the ordinance would not apply to the current mayoral term. Mr. Bryan said the final ordinance must be enacted at least six months before mayoral candidates file petitions, i.e., no later than the Feb. 3, 2025 meeting. 

Council approved a motion to authorize Ms. Saks to speak with the city arborist and review legislation regarding trees and shrubbery in her capacity as chair of the Service and Utilities Commission. This legislation was created because the mayor objected to her consulting the arborist as an infringement on the executive. The law director said that the motion was appropriate and disagreed with the mayor’s objection. This constitutes a legislative matter as it involves appropriation of funds for trees and shrubs and council can consult for opinions. 

Council approved the purchase of additional recycling carts to provide to residents on the waiting list and to have a few in reserve in case of damage. 

On emergency, council approved two ordinances for tree pruning and purchase.

The Heights Regional Active Transportation Plan being worked on for University Heights, Cleveland Heights, and South Euclid was presented on first reading only (no vote). Active transport would include walking, biking, and skating. The plan to be adopted, which would present a regional vision, was not yet in final form. The goals included connectivity, safety, accessibility, health, education, and equity. NOACA (Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency) funding would pay for wayfinding and signage. Mr. Rach praised the plan.

Council amended a contract for the Senior Transportation Connection to increase the cost of a one way trip from $36 to $37.81. Use of the service has remained fairly static from year to year and council encouraged enhancing publicity. 

Council committee reports

Mr. King stated he is working on getting installation and training set up for the new IT system for council meetings. 

The Finance Committee will meet Dec. 3 and Dec. 11 to work on the budget. 

There will be a joint meeting of the Building and Housing and the Service and Utilities Committees on Dec. 12.

LWV observer: Marilyn Singer  

Meeting packets, legislation, and other information can be found on the city website at: https://www.universityheights.com/council/

Videos of council meetings can be viewed on the “City of University Heights” YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA82j5L_CkQxK9cXP_qrXvw/videos