Cleveland Heights City Council Meeting highlights

OCT. 19, 2009

All council members present

Employee health care plans approved

Council authorized two agreements related to health care for city employees and their families. The first was with Medical Mutual of Ohio for the provision of insured medical, hospital and prescription drug services; the second was with Employee Benefits Consultants for the provision of services as a third-party administrator for the city’s self-funded dental program. Medical Mutual provided the most cost-effective bid on the medical and prescription plan but their proposal on the dental plan was not competitive so the city will continue to self-fund that. Both agreements are for 14 months in order to align the plan with the city’s fiscal year.

Revenues from 2009 from county to city

Council passed two items of “annual housekeeping” legislation. The first requested the county auditor to advance taxes from the proceeds of the 2009 tax year collection, including revenues from personal property taxes, real property taxes, and special assessments. The second accepted the accounts and rates determined by the county budget commission, authorizing the necessary tax levies, and certifying them to the county auditor. Council Member Mark Tumeo noted that this latter resolution does not involve any new taxes but only notifies the county, as required, about the apportionment of already approved monies.

More fiscal problems for local governments

Council Member Kenneth Montlack discussed a recent meeting in Columbus of representatives from the First Suburbs organizations; these included representatives from Cuyahoga County, the Northeast Ohio group, Hamilton County near Cincinnati, Montgomery County near Dayton, and Franklin County (Columbus). Conversations with state legislators indicated that the fiscal difficulties of this year will only increase in the future. As federal stimulus money is expended, every part of the state budget will be in question again. Cities have been warned that the Local Government Fund, a percentage of certain state taxes set aside for local government support, will be cut once again, endangering critical services at the local level. Also, the abolition of the estate tax, another piece of shared state revenue, as proposed by some legislators would deal yet another  blow to Cleveland Heights and other urban centers. Montlack believes that all residents or businesses in this city are going to have to shoulder more responsibility but pledged that city officials will continue to monitor expenses and try to increase revenues in ways that are not burdensome to most residents.

Community Center engineering services approved

Council approved an agreement with Karpinski Engineering as consulting engineer for the Community Center/Ice Rinks Energy Efficiency Improvement Project. Compensation is not to exceed $12,000, to be paid out of a $182,300 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Due to illness, there was no observer for the Oct. 19 meeting. These notes were abstracted from the official minutes posted on the city’s Web site.

NOV. 2, 2009

All council members present

Norfolk Road project awarded

 The contract for the Norfolk Road Sewer Project was awarded to Camino Construction for $298,651.

Volunteers needed for city boards

Council Member Nancy Dietrich encouraged citizens, especially African-Americans, to volunteer for one of the city’s boards, commissions or committees. The form to volunteer is available at City Hall and also the on city’s Web site.

Donations requested for the Youth Recreation Fund

Council Member Bonnie Caplan noted that the city’s Youth Recreation Fund needs donations. Checks, made out to the City of Cleveland Heights Youth Recreation Fund, can be mailed to the City of Cleveland Heights, 40 Severance Circle.

Blanket purchasing orders authorized

Council approved an addition to the city code authorizing establishment of blanket purchase orders not to exceed $25,000.

Variances granted

Four of the six resolutions pertaining to variances were approved – one for construction of a deck at the Anderson residence on Mayfield Road (with Council Member Mark Tumeo dissenting), two for construction of a one-car garage at the Deen residence on Silsby Road and the Gecowets residence on Bainbridge Road, and one for a storage shed overhang at the Hewston residence on Yellowstone Road. Council Member Dennis Wilcox noted that the Planning and Development Committee will review sections of the zoning code to reduce the number of variance requests to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Trespass on vacant property made criminal

Council voted to amend the city’s criminal trespass ordinance to include trespass upon vacant property. Previously, the law required that the property owner had to make a complaint before criminal trespass charges could be filed. Police could take no action if the property was vacant and the owner not present. The new prohibition means that persons who trespass will be in violation unless they can prove they have permission to be on the property. Mayor Kelley said this provision was in response to citizens’ concerns and will give the police the tools they need. He asked citizens to call the police if they notice trespassers on vacant property.

LWV observers: Lisa Peters and Katherine Solender

This is an expanded version of the report published in the printed Heights Observer.

These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Charlene Morse, Marilyn McLaughlin and Maryann Barnes. To receive email postings of full reports, send an email 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.