Cleveland Heights

Cuda and Russell to meet with Forest Hill residents

Cleveland Heights City Council President Tony Cuda and council Vice President Davida Russell will hold a listening session on Tuesday, March 5, 7–8 p.m., at Forest Hill Church, 3031 Monticello Blvd., at the corner of Monticello and Lee Road. 

Heights residents—and Forest Hill residents in particular—are invited to take this opportunity to meet Cuda and Russell, and let them know what is on their minds. The focus of the March 5 session will be on issues and concerns of particular interest to Forest Hill.

Cuda and Russell have previously hosted listening sessions for Taylor/Canterbury/Boulevard, and Coventry/Roxboro/Fairfax. Plans are in the works for a similar event for Noble/Oxford/Caledonia.

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Volume 17, Issue 3, Posted 11:05 AM, 02.24.2024

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

FEBRUARY 5, 2024 - regular meeting

  • Public comment
  • Mayor’s report
  • City administrator’s report
  • Clerk of council’s report
  • Council actions
  • Council member comments
  • Public session not authorized
  • Israel-Palestine resolution
  • Committee of the whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Tony Cuda, Vice President Davida Russell, and council members Craig Cobb, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox Jr. and Jim Petras. Janine Boyd was not present. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council; William Hanna, law director; and Danny Williams, city administrator. The meeting ran 1.75 hours.

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Volume 17, Issue 3, Posted 11:46 AM, 02.29.2024

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

JANUARY 16, 2024 - regular meeting

  • Public comment
  • Mayor’s report
  • City Administrator’s Report
  • Council actions
  • Council member comments
  • Committee of the whole
  • Other agenda items

Council President Tony Cuda, Council Vice President Davida Russell, and Council Members Craig Cobb, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Jim Petras were present. Mayor Kahlil Seren was absent (attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors) and Council Member Janine Boyd was observing virtually. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, William Hanna, law director, and Danny Williams, city administrator. The regular meeting ran 44 minutes and the Committee of the Whole, one hour and 38 minutes. A public hearing for zoning text and map changes ran 27 minutes.

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Volume 17, Issue 3, Posted 11:39 AM, 02.29.2024

Cain Park launches winter festival

Cain Park has always been more than Cleveland Heights’ Summer Arts Park. For decades, its sled hill has been a source of winter fun for Cleveland Heights families. Now, residents and visitors are encouraged to embrace the chill, indulge in delicious treats, and be part of a new winter tradition.

This month, Cain Park will embrace its winter role and take the first step toward becoming a year-round hub for community events and activities with the launch of the first annual Cain Park Freeze Fest, a free winter festival planned for Saturday, Feb. 24, 4–9 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 25, noon to 4 p.m.

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Volume 17, Issue 2, Posted 5:11 PM, 01.30.2024

CH CRC seeks community input at Feb. 12 meeting

Cleveland Heights City Resolution 176-2022, passed by CH City Council on Dec. 5, 2022, established a Charter Review Commission (CRC) to review the Cleveland Heights City Charter and make recommendations for charter amendments. 

The commission was instructed to review the 2017 CRC report, and interview and consult current and former staff, current and former elected officials, and anyone else deemed appropriate by the commission.

The CRC would also like to hear from the Cleveland Heights community and learn what community members consider important for the city charter and city government, which has gone through some growing pains in the past few years. The CRC wants input regarding how we can all make the system function better.

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Volume 17, Issue 2, Posted 4:38 PM, 01.30.2024

Cuda is new CH City Council president

In its first meeting of 2024, Cleveland Heights City Council convened an organizational meeting to swear in the three council members elected in November, and select a council president and vice president.

At the Jan. 2 meeting, Gail Larson and Jim Petras took the oath of office. (Janine Boyd was sworn in at her home, on Jan. 1, by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold.)

Davida Russell was then elected president pro tem, and presided over the nominations for council president.

Council Member Anthony Mattox Jr. nominated Gail Larson, who declined; Mattox subsequently nominated Janine Boyd. Larson nominated Council Member Tony Cuda.

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Volume 17, Issue 2, Posted 1:28 PM, 01.04.2024

Community and business leaders share strengths and needs at community relations meeting

The Community Relations and Recreation Committee of Cleveland Heights City Council had its quarterly meeting on Nov. 6. Invited guests, representing a variety of Cleveland Heights businesses and community organizations, shared what they offer and what they need from the city.

Cleveland Heights Council Member Davida Russell is chair of the committee, which comprises Community Relations, the Office on Aging, Public Properties, Public Relations, Recreation Programs and School Relationships. Council members Janine Boyd (vice chair) and Gail Larson are the committee’s other members.

Guests at the meeting included Adam Winston, director of government for MetroHealth; Alyssa Roberts, program coordinator for the LGBTQ Community Center of Greater Cleveland; David Zhou, emerging markets loan officer for PNC Bank; Julie Mostov, the new executive director of the Cedar Fairmount Special Improvement District, and executive director of the Heights-Hillcrest Chamber of Commerce, which includes Cleveland Heights, University Heights, Shaker Heights, Richmond Heights, South Euclid and Lyndhurst; Kristine Pagsuyoin, executive director of FutureHeights; Leonard Remmer, co-owner of The Exclusive Touch; Rabbi Alan Joseph, the executive director of Bikur Cholim; Rob Previte, vice president of business development for Call A Doctor Plus; and Terrance Allen, CEO of Urban City Codes.

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Volume 17, Issue 1, Posted 12:27 PM, 12.27.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

DEC. 4, 2023 - regular meeting

  • Public comment
  • Cedar Fairmount vacant store
  • Council actions
  • Council member comments
  • Committee of the Whole

Council members present were Melody Joy Hart (president), Craig Cobb (vice president), Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Clerk of Council Addie Balester, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran a little under one hour.

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Volume 17, Issue 1, Posted 2:01 PM, 12.29.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

NOV. 20, 2023 - regular meeting

  • Public comment
  • Mayor’s report
  • Clerk of council’s report
  • Council actions
  • Legislation presented with no vote
  • Council member comments
  • Committee of the Whole


Board members present were Melody Joy Hart (president), Craig Cobb (vice president), Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox Jr., and Davida Russell. Also, present were  Mayor Kahlil Seren, Clerk of Council Addie Balester, Law Director William Hanna, and City Administrator Danny Williams. The meeting ran a little over two and one quarter hours.

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Volume 17, Issue 1, Posted 2:00 PM, 12.29.2023

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 - regular meeting

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

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox Jr., and Davida Russell. Council Vice President Craig Cobb was excused but watched remotely.

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Volume 16, Issue 12, Posted 10:15 AM, 11.28.2023

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

OCTOBER 16, 2023 - regular meeting

  • Public comment
  • Mayor’s report
  • City administrator’s report
  • Racial Justice Task Force
  • Council actions
  • First readings, no vote
  • Committee reports 
  • Committee of the whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present was Addie Balester, clerk of council. The meeting ran about two and one half hours.

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Volume 16, Issue 12, Posted 10:02 AM, 11.28.2023

Russell joins state task force

Gov. Mike DeWine has appointed Cleveland Heights Council Member Davida Russell, a school bus driver, to serve on the newly formed Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group.

“I feel honored to be a voice for everyone who drives a school bus around the state,” said Russell, the only school bus driver appointed to the group.

DeWine announced the creation of the working group following the death of a Clark County 11-year-old who was killed when a vehicle collided with his school bus.

"There is always more that can be done when it comes to the safety of children, and I believe we have an obligation to take a holistic look at the safety of our school buses," said DeWine. "This group's review will be thorough, focusing on many different aspects of transportation safety."

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Volume 16, Issue 11, Posted 4:17 PM, 10.21.2023

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights [online 10-2-23]

OCT. 2, 2023 - regular meeting

  • Public comment
  • Mayor’s report
  • Council actions
  • Committee reports
  • Committee of the Whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for one hour.

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Volume 16, Issue 11, Posted 10:14 AM, 10.27.2023

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights [online 9-18-23]

SEPT. 18, 2023 - regular meeting

  • Public comment
  • Mayor’s report
  • Clerk of council’s report
  • Emergency management recertification
  • Noble Station
  • Other council actions
  • Committee reports
  • Committee of the Whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and council members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present was William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for about two hours and 10 minutes.

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Volume 16, Issue 11, Posted 10:08 AM, 10.27.2023

CH Council votes no on Noble Station

On Sept. 18, Cleveland Heights City Council voted 5-2 against Ordinance 143-2023, the proposed development agreement known as the Noble Station Apartments.

Council members Janine Boyd and Anthony Mattox Jr. voted to pass the legislation, while Craig Cobb, Tony Cuda, Melody Joy Hart, Gail Larson, and Davida Russell voted against it.

Plans for the Noble Station development called for a four-story, 52-unit, multi-family affordable housing facility, to be built on city-owned property—approximately 2.08 acres of parcels in the vicinity of Noble and Woodview roads.

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Volume 16, Issue 10, Posted 3:53 PM, 09.25.2023

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 - regular meeting

  • Public comment
  • Mayor’s report
  • City administrator
  • Council actions 
  • First readings
  • Committee reports
  • Committee of the Whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for one and one half hours.

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Volume 16, Issue 10, Posted 10:44 AM, 10.09.2023

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

AUGUST 21, 2023 - regular meeting

  • Public comment
  • Mayor’s report
  • Council action
  • Committee reports
  • Committee of the whole

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, and Davida Russell. Anthony Mattox, Jr. was not present. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. Council met for one hour.

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Volume 16, Issue 10, Posted 10:34 AM, 10.09.2023

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS / Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

AUGUST 7, 2023 - regular meeting

  • Public comment
  • Mayor’s report
  • Clerk of council’s report
  • 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 Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, and Anthony Mattox Jr. Davida Russell was not present. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran one hour and 15 minutes.

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Volume 16, Issue 9, Posted 10:28 AM, 09.12.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

JUNE 5, 2023 regular meeting

  • Public comment
  • Mayor’s report
  • Council action
  • First readings only
  • 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 Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for one and a quarter hours.

 

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Volume 16, Issue 7, Posted 2:49 PM, 07.10.2023

CH's Juneteenth and Pride Month celebrations welcome all

America commemorates two watershed moments in civil rights each June: Juneteenth and Pride Month. The city of Cleveland Heights will join in with its own celebrations.

On Saturday, June 17, Cleveland Heights will recognize the living history of Juneteenth with an event organized in partnership with Safer Heights at Forest Hill Park, 5–9 p.m.

On Sunday, June 18, Cain Park—the city’s Summer Arts Park—will host a free and open-to-the-public Juneteenth concert at 1 p.m., featuring a lineup of Cleveland R&B and soul acts (see www.cainpark.com for details).

The following Saturday, on June 24, the city will launch what it hopes will become an annual event to cap off Pride Month: Pride in the Park will be held from noon to 4 p.m. in Cain Park.

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Volume 16, Issue 7, Posted 11:27 AM, 06.12.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 5-15-23

MAY 15, 2023 regular meeting

 

  • Public comments
  • Mayor’s report
  • Clerk of council’s report
  • Charter Review Commission
  • Other council action
  • First reading only
  • Proclamations
  • 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 Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for one and one half hours.

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Volume 16, Issue 7, Posted 11:54 AM, 06.12.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 5-1-23

MAY 1, 2023 regular meeting

 

  • Public comments
  • Mayor’s report
  • Horseshoe Lake
  • Charter review commission
  • Council actions
  • First readings only
  • Committee reports
  • Member comments
  • Committee of the Whole

 

Present were Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Davida Russell. Mayor Kahlil Seren was not present. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for one hour and 40 minutes.

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Volume 16, Issue 6, Posted 9:34 AM, 05.15.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 4-24-23

APRIL 24, 2023 special meeting

 

  • Ice rink reconstruction

 

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, and Anthony Mattox, Jr. Davida Russell was not present. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council; William Hanna, law director; Andrew Unetic, finance director; and Kelly Ledbetter, parks and recreation director. The meeting ran 30 minutes.

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Volume 16, Issue 6, Posted 9:37 AM, 05.15.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 4-17-23

APRIL 17, 2023 regular meeting

 

  • Public comments
  • Mayor’s report
  • Recognitions
  • Actions on first reading and emergency
  • Actions on second reading and emergency
  • First readings only
  • 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 Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, and Anthony Mattox, Jr. Davida Russell was not present. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council and William Hanna, law director.

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Volume 16, Issue 6, Posted 9:39 AM, 05.15.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 4-3-2023

APRIL 3, 2023 regular meeting

 

  • Public comments
  • Mayor’s report
  • Clerk of council’s report
  • Juanita Brent 
  • Opioid settlement
  • Legislation adopted on first reading
  • First readings only (no vote)
  • Consent agenda
  • Committee reports
  • Member comments
  • Committee of the Whole

 

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The public regular meeting ran 45 minutes. 

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Volume 16, Issue 5, Posted 11:03 AM, 04.20.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 3-20-2023

MARCH 20, 2023 regular meeting

 

  • Mayor’s report
  • Council actions
  • Opioid settlement -first reading
  • New business
  • Committee reports, member comments
  • Committee of the Whole

 

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for one half hour.

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Volume 16, Issue 5, Posted 11:02 AM, 04.20.2023

Traffic-calming plan underway for Noble Elementary

Traffic around Noble Elementary School is a major concern for the neighborhood, particularly when children are dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon. 

Principal Patrick Carpenter has worked with Mayor Kahlil Seren to define the issues and open up communication with residents of Parkdale and Montevista roads, and of the short section of Ardoon Street that connects them.

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Volume 16, Issue 4, Posted 10:34 AM, 04.02.2023

Municipal court judge highlights past year's work

At the end of March of each year, Ohio’s municipal courts must submit to their city and county governments a report of their operations, including a statement of receipts and expenditures. The full 2022 Annual Report for the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court, along with reports from years past, can be found on the court’s website, www.clevelandheightscourt.com.

Here are highlights of some of the work performed by the court, and the improvements and community collaborations it has undertaken.

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Volume 16, Issue 4, Posted 10:27 AM, 04.02.2023

Cleveland Heights city administrator resigns

In a March 20 news release, the city of Cleveland Heights announced that its first city administrator, Joseph Sinnott, had resigned, effective March 31.

The city administrator position was mandated by the 2019 city charter amendment, in which the city's government changed to an elected mayor/council form.

Mayor Kahlil Seren's appointment of Sinnott was confirmed by city council one year ago, on March 21, 2022. Seren selected Sinnott, a former mayor of Erie, Pa., from an applicant field of more than 50.

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Volume 16, Issue 4, Posted 9:41 AM, 03.21.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

MARCH 6, 2023, regular meeting

 

  • Public comments
  • Mayor’s report
  • Clerk of council’s report
  • Council actions on first reading
  • Council actions on second reading
  • Council member comments
  • Committee of the whole

 

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. Council Vice President Craig Cobb was not present. The meeting lasted 40 minutes.

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Volume 16, Issue 4, Posted 9:59 AM, 04.02.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

FEBRUARY 27, 2023, special meeting

 

  • Safe Routes to School 
  • Cedar-Fairmount SID
  • Committee of the whole

 

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, and Anthony Mattox, Jr. Also present was Law Director William Hanna. Council Member Davida Russell was not present. The special meeting ran for seven minutes.

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Volume 16, Issue 4, Posted 10:01 AM, 04.02.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

FEBRUARY 21, 2023, regular meeting

 

  • Public comments
  • Mayor’s report
  • Council actions
  • First readings 
  • 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 Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for one and one quarter hours.

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Volume 16, Issue 4, Posted 10:02 AM, 04.02.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights

FEBRUARY 13, 2023, special meeting

 

  • Blighted property
  • Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook
  • Two first readings
  • Committee of the whole

 

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Janine Boyd, Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr., and Davida Russell. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The special meeting ran for eight minutes.

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Volume 16, Issue 4, Posted 10:03 AM, 04.02.2023

Mayor returns Boyd to CH City Council

On Feb. 10, Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren announced his appointment of former CH Council Member and former state Rep. Janine Boyd to city council. She will serve out the unexpired term of Josie Moore, who resigned from council on Dec. 16. That term ends on Dec. 31, 2023; the seat will be on the ballot this November.

The mayor's announcement came after the six Cleveland Heights City Council members failed to appoint a seventh.

The city charter stipulates that council has 45 days in which to fill a council vacancy, once it has voted to accept a council member's resignation. Council voted to accept Moore's resignation on Dec. 21, giving council members until Feb. 4 to appoint someone.

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Volume 16, Issue 3, Posted 11:50 AM, 02.12.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 2-6-23

FEBRUARY 6, 2023, regular meeting

 

  • Mayor’s report
  • Clerk of council’s report
  • 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. and Davida Russell. Also present were Clerk of Council Addie Balester and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran 45 minutes.

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Volume 16, Issue 3, Posted 10:29 AM, 02.16.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 2-2-23

FEBRUARY 2, 2023, special meeting

 

  • Council seat appointment
  • Council member comments
  • Committee of the whole

 

Present were Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb and Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, Anthony Mattox, Jr. and Davida Russell. Mayor Kahlil Seren was not present. Also present were Clerk of Council Addie Balester and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran for 13 minutes.

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Volume 16, Issue 3, Posted 10:30 AM, 02.16.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 1-23-23

JANUARY 23, 2023, special meeting

 

  • Mayor's report
  • Vehicles purchased
  • 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., and Davida Russell. Also present were Clerk of Council Addie Balester and Finance Director Andrew Unetic. The meeting ran 15 minutes.

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Volume 16, Issue 3, Posted 8:55 AM, 02.10.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 1-17-23

JANUARY 17, 2023, regular meeting

 

  • Public comments
  • Mayor’s report
  • Clerk of council’s report
  • 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., and Davida Russell. Also present were Clerk of Council Addie Balester and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran 55 minutes.

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Volume 16, Issue 3, Posted 8:56 AM, 02.10.2023

Severance's owner has history of violations

Much of Severance Town Center (STC) is owned by Namdar Realty (namdarrealtygroup.com) and is managed by its partner, Mason Asset Management. Namdar bought STC at auction for $10.4 million in 2016. 

Namdar Realty, based in Great Neck, N.Y., is family-owned. Founded in 1999, it owns several hundred shopping malls across the United States. Igal Namdar heads Namdar Realty, and Elliot Nassim, the cousin of Namdar’s wife, heads Mason Asset Management.

Namdar Realty is known for buying "B" and "C" level malls that are “distressed” and “struggling.” Many lost their anchor stores as national chains (e.g., Sears, J.C. Penney, Macy’s) reduced their number of locations or went out of business.

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Volume 16, Issue 2, Posted 11:42 AM, 01.31.2023

CH council appointment deadline nears

A special meeting of Cleveland Heights City Council, scheduled for Monday evening, Jan. 30, had a single agenda item: Appointment of a Council Member.

With the same-day cancellation of the Jan. 30 meeting, that agenda item has moved to a Feb. 2 special meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m. 

CH City Council has until Saturday, Feb. 4, to appoint a new council member to fill the seat formerly held by Josie Moore.

According to the city charter, council has 45 days in which to appoint a new council member. If council were to fail to appoint someone by the deadline, the mayor would then have 10 days in which to fill the seat.

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Volume 16, Issue 2, Posted 10:46 AM, 01.31.2023

CRC applications due Jan. 17; LWV interviews CH council applicants

Cleveland Heights City Council extended its original deadline for applications for the city's new Charter Review Commission (CRC), setting a new deadline of Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 5 p.m. To apply to serve on the CRC, fill out the application at www.clevelandheights.org, and include a résumé.

Council has not ruled out extending the CRC deadline further; that discussion is on the agenda for its Jan. 17 Council Committee of the Whole meeting. As of Jan. 15, there were 19 applicants for the nine CRC positions.

As of Jan. 17, CH City Council is weighing 24 applications for the open council seat formerly held by Josie Moore, who resigned in December. (There were 26 applicants originally, but two have withdrawn from consideration.)

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Volume 16, Issue 2, Posted 9:30 AM, 01.17.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 1-3-23

JANUARY 3, 2023, regular meeting

 

  • Public comments
  • Clerk of council report
  • Mayor’s report
  • 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., and Davida Russell. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for one hour.

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Volume 16, Issue 2, Posted 2:55 PM, 01.13.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 12-27-22

DECEMBER 27, 2022 - regular meeting

 

  • Insurance contract

 

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Gail Larson, and Anthony Mattox, Jr. Davida Russell was not present. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and Laure Wagner, assistant law director. The meeting was very short - three minutes - with only one agenda item.

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Volume 16, Issue 2, Posted 2:59 PM, 01.13.2023

CH council president reports on transition and collaboration

In 2019, 60% voted for having an elected-mayor government in Cleveland Heights. The people then elected Kahlil Seren as mayor, by about a 60% vote, to implement the new government in 2022. As president of council, I had a vision of a council that works together harmoniously to enact a common vision. Since we were transitioning to an elected-mayor form of government, part of that vision and our responsibility is to make that transition go smoothly. The future of our city depends on it.

Day-to-day operations of council have gone well. City business is enacted, and some groundbreaking legislation passed. Economic development projects are also moving ahead. In-fill housing is being built in multiple neighborhoods.

We have much to be proud of and to look forward to.

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Volume 16, Issue 1, Posted 10:30 AM, 01.02.2023

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 12-5-2022

DECEMBER 5, 2022, regular meeting

 

  • Public comments
  • Mayor’s report
  • Clerk of council report
  • Charter review commission
  • Other council action
  • Legislation presented with no 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., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Also present were Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for one hour and 45 minutes.

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Volume 16, Issue 1, Posted 1:35 PM, 12.18.2022

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 11-21-22

NOVEMBER 21, 2022, regular meeting

 

  • Public comments
  • Mayor’s report
  • Clerk of council’s report
  • Agreements approved 
  • Speed limit reductions
  • Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook
  • First readings of new legislation
  • 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 Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for one hour.

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Volume 16, Issue 1, Posted 11:54 AM, 12.12.2022

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 11-7-22

NOVEMBER 7, 2022 - regular meeting

  • Public comments
  • Mayor’s report
  • Barbara Boyd
  • Clerk of council’s report
  • Sharing facilities
  • Other council action
  • Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook 
  • 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 Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for one hour.

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Volume 15, Issue 12, Posted 9:20 AM, 12.05.2022

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 10-17-22

OCTOBER 17, 2022, regular meeting

 

  • Mayor’s report
  • Clerk of council report
  • Council actions on emergency
  • Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook
  • Lead safe ordinance
  • First readings, no 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., Josie Moore, and Davida Russell. Also present was William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for 45 minutes.

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Volume 15, Issue 12, Posted 3:13 PM, 12.05.2022

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 10-3-22

OCTOBER 3, 2022, regular meeting

 

  • Public comments
  • Clerk of council report
  • First reading adoptions
  • Crossing guards
  • First readings, no vote
  • Lead hazards ordinance
  • 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 Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran for three hours and 12 minutes.

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Volume 15, Issue 11, Posted 2:07 PM, 10.31.2022

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 9-19-22

SEPTEMBER 19, 2022, regular meeting

 

  • Public comments
  • Clerk of council report
  • Council actions
  • Lead-safe legislation 
  • 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 Addie Balester, clerk of council, and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran 46 minutes.

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Volume 15, Issue 11, Posted 2:11 PM, 10.31.2022

CH seeks resident input on ARPA funds via survey

The city of Cleveland Heights is asking residents how they would like it to spend its remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

A public input form (survey) posted on the city's website, clevelandheights.gov/arpa, asks residents to prioritize areas of investment, and suggest specific ways in which the funds might be spent.

Cleveland Heights received $38.8 million ARPA state and local fiscal recovery funds. Of that total, $10.84 million has not yet been allocated.

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Volume 15, Issue 10, Posted 11:26 AM, 10.01.2022

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 9-6-22

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.

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Volume 15, Issue 10, Posted 2:45 PM, 09.15.2022

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 8-22-22

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.

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Volume 15, Issue 10, Posted 2:52 PM, 09.15.2022

Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights 8-15-22

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.

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Volume 15, Issue 10, Posted 2:55 PM, 09.15.2022

ARPA Funds Survey Weekend aims to boost CH resident input

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.

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Volume 15, Issue 10, Posted 2:57 PM, 09.12.2022