Cleveland Heights

FEBRUARY 7, 2022 - Regular Meeting

• Public comments
• Mayor’s report
• Clerk of council report
• Gail Larson appointed
• Cedar/Lee/Meadowbrook
• Other council actions
• Council member comments

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and Council Members Tony Cuda, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Anthony Mattox, Jr. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting ran one hour and six minutes.

JANUARY 18, 2022 – Regular meeting

• Public comments
• Mayor’s report
• Council action
• 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, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Anthony Mattox, Jr. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director.

JANUARY 10. 2022 – Regular Meeting

• Public comments
• Mayor’s report
• Liquor permit
• Park ballot initiative
• Council committees
• Other council action
• Council member comments

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council President Melody Joy Hart, Council Vice President Craig Cobb, and council members Tony Cuda, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Anthony Wilcox. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting began at 7:38 p.m. and ended at 8:20 p.m.

Cleveland Heights City Council could decide at its Feb. 7 meeting whether to adopt, amend, or reject a citizen-led initiative to require the city to construct a park on the city-owned site at Lee Road and Meadowbrook Boulevard. That decision could determine whether the initiative will appear on the May 3 primary ballot.

At the Jan. 10 city council meeting, CH Finance Director and Clerk of Council Amy Himmelein certified that an initiative petition for an ordinance to require a public activity park be created on 1.07 acres of city-owned land at the corner of Lee Road, Tullamore Road and Meadowbrook Boulevard had obtained sufficient signatures for inclusion on the ballot.

A group of Cleveland Heights residents, led by Ralph Solonitz, Garry Kanter, Lee Barbee, Albert Oberst and Frances Mentch, had submitted the petition to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Nov. 29, but were told to collect additional signatures by Dec. 27. The group submitted additional signatures, and, on Jan. 9, the board determined that the initiative had met the 10 percent requirement for inclusion on the ballot.

A citizen-led proposal to designate the city-owned site at Lee Road and Meadowbrook Boulevard as a public park is one step closer to appearing on the May 3 primary ballot.

At the Jan. 10 meeting of Cleveland Heights City Council, CH Finance Director and Clerk of Council Amy Himmelein certified that an initiative petition for an ordinance to require a public activity park be created on 1.07 acres of city-owned land at the corner of Lee Road, Tullamore Road and Meadowbrook Boulevard had obtained sufficient signatures for inclusion on the ballot.

A group of Cleveland Heights residents, led by Ralph Solonitz, Garry Kanter, Lee Barbee, Albert Oberst and Frances Mentch, had submitted the petition to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections on Nov. 29, but had been told to collect additional signatures by Dec. 27.

JANUARY 3, 2022 – Regular Meeting

• Clerk of council report
• Council action
• Council member comments

Present were Mayor Kahlil Seren, and council members Craig Cobb, Tony Cuda, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Anthony Mattox, Jr. Council Member Josie Moore was excused. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. Council met for about one and a quarter hour.

DECEMBER 20, 2021 – Regular meeting

• Public comments
• City manager’s comments
• Council actions
• Council members’ comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Melody Joy Hart was home due to COVID and, while unable to vote, participated in the discussion by phone. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. Council met for about one and a quarter hour.

DECEMBER 13, 2021 – Special Meeting

• Public comments
• Desota Avenue infill construction

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Melody Joy Hart was absent due to illness. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. Council met for five minutes.

With Kahlil Seren, a Cleveland Heights City Council member, set to become the city's mayor in January, his council seat will become vacant upon his resignation, which was expected to be tendered on Dec. 31.

On Nov. 29, a special meeting of the Cleveland Heights Council Committee of the Whole brought together some current council members, as well as those who will begin serving on council in January, to discuss “vacancy-filling procedures in anticipation of vacancy resulting from Kahlil Seren’s election as [m]ayor.”

Subsequent to the meeting, the city announced that council would accept applications from residents interested in being considered for the council vacancy.

The deadline to apply was Dec. 17, and there were 22 applicants. Since the January issue of the Heights Observer went to press, the applicants' names and applications have been posted on the city's website. Because one of the applicants dropped out, there are 21, not 22, names and applications posted online.

With Kahlil Seren, a current Cleveland Heights City Council member, set to become the city's mayor, his council seat will become vacant in January.

On Nov. 29, a special meeting of the Cleveland Heights Council Committee of the Whole brought together current council members, as well as those who will begin serving on council in January, to discuss “vacancy-filling procedures in anticipation of vacancy resulting from Kahlil Seren’s election as [m]ayor.”

Subsequent to the meeting, the city announced that council would be accepting applications from residents interested in being considered for the council vacancy.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Dec. 17. The application is available at www.clevelandheights.com/CouncilApplication.

NOVEMBER 29, 2021 – special meeting

• Public comments
• Cedar-Lee Meadowbrook resolution
• Committee of the whole
• Council vacancy

Present were Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Melody Joy Hart, Josie Moore, and Michael Ungar. President Jason Stein and Davida Russell were excused. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting was 18 minutes. 

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 – special meeting

• Public comments
• City boards and commissions
• NEORSD Horseshoe Lake proposal
• Other council action

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar.  Josie Moore was absent. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran for one hour and ten minutes.

NOVEMBER 15, 2021 - regular meeting

• Josie Moore sworn in
• Public comments
• Legislation passed on emergency
• Legislation presented with no vote
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Melody Joy Hart, Josie Moore, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil,  and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting ran from 8:10 to 9:48 p.m.

NOVEMBER 1, 2021 – regular meeting

• Public comments
• City manager’s report
• Council action
• Consent agenda

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Vice President, Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Melody Joy Hart, and Davida Russell. Michael N. Ungar was absent. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting lasted a little over a half hour.

OCTOBER 18, 2021 – regular meeting

• Public comments
• City manager’s report
• Council actions
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Vice President, Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Melody Joy Hart, and Davida Russell. Michael N. Ungar was absent. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting lasted a little over a half hour.

A debate between Cleveland Heights first-ever mayoral candidates Barbara Danforth and Khalil Seren will stream live on YouTube on Tuesday, Oct. 12, from 7-8:40pm.

Presented by FutureHeights and the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland (LWVGC), and with support from Heights Libraries, the event will be moderated by John Carroll University political science professor Sara Schiavoni.   

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021- regular meeting

• Public comments
• City Hall still closed
• Budget legislation postponed
• Council member comments

Present were Kahlil Seren, council vice president; Craig Cobb; Melody Joy Hart; and Michael N. Ungar. Jason Stein, council president; and Davida Russell were absent.

Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager and Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director. The meeting was 15 minutes.

OCTOBER 4, 2021, regular meeting

• Public comments
• Council actions
• Council discussion of Start Right

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Also present were Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil attended the committee of the whole but not the public meeting. The public meeting lasted a little over an hour and commenced after an executive session that adjourned at 9 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 – regular meeting

• Public comments
• Lifesaving Award
• Energy rate agreements
• Council actions
• Council member comments

Present were Jason Stein, council president; Kahlil Seren, council vice president; Craig Cobb; Melody Joy Hart; and Michael N. Ungar. Davida Russell was absent. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting was about one hour and ten minutes.

Seven residents filed valid candidate petitions in the race for the unexpired CH City Council term, ending Dec. 31, 2023, that has been added to the Nov. 2 ballot.

The seven candidates are Erin C. Johnson, Garry Kanter, Robert Koonce, Josie Moore, Ellen M. Roth, Eric J. Silverman, and James A. Williams.

Other Cleveland Heights-specific races on city ballots on Nov. 2 are the following:

• Cleveland Heights mayor: The two candidates are Barbara Danforth and Kahlil Seren, based on unofficial primary election results (as of Sept. 15).
• Cleveland Heights City Council member, four-year term: The six candidates, for four council seats, are Lee Barbee II, Craig Cobb, Tony Cuda, Anthony Mattox Jr., Davida Russell, and Allosious K. Snodgrass.
• Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District Board of Education member: The seven candidates, for three board seats, are Mario Clopton-Zymler, Charles C. Drake, Dan Heintz, Malia Lewis, Maureen Lynn, Mordechai Rennert, and Jodi L. Sourini.

In the Sept. 14 primary election, Cleveland Heights residents cast their votes for one of three mayoral candidates. According to not-yet-official election results, the tally as of Sept. 15 showed Barbara Danforth in the lead, with 3,105 votes (about 47%), followed by Kahlil Seren with 2,555 (38%) and Melody Joy Hart with 1,007 (15%).

The top two finishers, Danforth and Seren, will face off in the general election on Nov. 2.

Voter turnout for Cleveland Heights' first mayoral primary election was low, with votes cast by fewer than 7,000 of the city's approximately 33,967 (as of Sept. 1) registered voters.

AUGUST 30, 2021, Special Meeting

• Public comments
• Council actions
• Proclamations

Present were Jason Stein, council president; Kahlil Seren, council vice president; Craig Cobb; Melody Joy Hart; Davida Russell; and Michael N. Ungar. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The public meeting was about one hour and 15 minutes, following an hour-long executive session to consider real estate matters.

AUGUST 25, 2021, special meeting to call a Special Election for a vacant council seat

Present were Jason Stein, president; Kahlil Seren, vice president; Craig Cobb; Melody Joy Hart; Davida Russell; and Michael N Ungar. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council; William Hanna, law director. The meeting lasted seven minutes.

AUGUST 16, 2021- Regular Meeting

• Public comments
• City manager report
• Council actions
• Mary Dunbar resigns
• Council member comments

Present were Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Council President Jason Stein was absent. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting lasted about an hour and ten minutes.

Cleveland Heights City Council announced on Aug. 25 that the seat left vacant by Mary Dunbar, who resigned Aug. 16, would be filled by way of a special election, to be held concurrently with the general election, on Nov. 2. Council had previously announced that it would appoint someone to fill the vacancy, and that it would be accepting applications beginning Aug. 17.

Council's Aug. 25 announcement, posted on the city's website (www.clevelandheights.com), states that authorization for the special election was made in consultation with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (BOE), and after a review of the city's charter.

Candidates who are interested in serving out the remainder of Dunbar's unexpired term, through Dec. 31, 2023, must file nominating petitions containing the signatures of at least 50, and no more than 150, "qualified electors" with the BOE by Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 4 p.m.

AUGUST 9, 2021 – Special joint session with Shaker Heights City Council re: Shaker Lakes

• NEORSD proposal
• Questions from council members and the public:
  • The need for Horseshoe Lake Dam demolition
  • Post project development
  • Role of the cities
  • Environmental considerations
  • Public input

Cleveland Heights Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, members Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Hart, Davida Russell and Michael Ungar were present. Council President Jason Stein was absent. Also present were Cleveland Heights City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Shaker Heights Mayor David Weiss, and four or five Shaker Heights council members.

Long-serving Cleveland Heights City Council Member Mary Dunbar resigned at council’s Aug. 16 meeting, effective immediately.

Dunbar stated that she had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, explaining, “When I was re-elected for a third four-year term on city council, in November of 2019, I expected to be serving on city council until 2024. Something unexpected has come up.” The rest of her statement follows:

“At the end of January 2020, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Ever since, I have been trying to understand the disease and how best to cope with it. I have studied up on Parkinson’s, done a lot of physical therapy, participated in three clinical trials, and started taking medicine for the disease this year.

On Thursday, Aug. 12, the Cleveland Heights Mayoral Forum, sponsored by the Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland (LWVGC), will now be held exclusively online. The LWVGC announced the change in response to the increase in COVID-19 cases.

The forum will take place 7–9 p.m., as originally scheduled, and can be livestreamed via YouTube: https://youtu.be/KIvJolHFIKc, or the bitly URL: https://bit.ly/CHMayor2021Aug12. The forum will be recorded for later viewing.

There will be no in-person audience for the virtual forum; only the candidates, moderator, tech support, and a limited number of LWV volunteers will be in the room.

It is with a heavy heart but clear eyes that I announce the suspension of my campaign for mayor of Cleveland Heights.

For a while now I have gone back and forth about whether staying in the race and pushing issues and ideas into the dialogue through the platform of a mayoral candidate was good for Cleveland Heights. And for a while, I believe it was. However, I no longer think that’s the case.

I ran for mayor because I wanted to present a cohesive, long-term, progressive vision for Cleveland Heights that prioritizes our people and our environment. I have watched so many elections in which the conversation around what’s at stake—and what’s possible—feels so limited. I wanted to be a candidate who would talk about issues that are on people’s minds but might not be treated as priorities in mainstream talking points.

AUGUST 2, 2021

• Public comments
• Staff reports
• Council action
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Also present were Susanna Niermann O’Neil, city manager; Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director; and William Hanna, law director. The meeting lasted about an hour and a half.

This year—Aug. 9, to be exact—marks the 100th anniversary of Cleveland Heights officially becoming a city. Since early 2021, 100 Year/All Are Welcome banners have decorated the city, and various activities have encouraged residents and guests to enjoy the history and beauty of Cleveland Heights. There have been walking tours, garden tours, webinars on the history of the city’s landmarks, and more.

One of the most visible projects was a competition for a mural for the corner of Noble and Roanoke roads, at the Noble-Roanoke Mini Park.

Artists submitted designs in April and May, from which a committee of community members helped make the final selection. Cleveland Heights resident Adam May’s design was the top choice, garnering the most votes.

JUNE 28, 2021

• City manager’s report
• Council actions
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. 

An executive session, lasting 85 minutes, was held to consider property purchase or sale and to confer with an attorney on pending court action. The regular meeting was 53 minutes.

JUNE 21, 2021 regular meeting

• Public comments
• City manager’s report
• Police chief’s report
• Council actions
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Also, present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting lasted about one hour.

JUNE 7, 2021 regular meeting

• Public comment
• City manager’s report
• Zoning code amendments
• Council action
• Council member comments

Present were Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Council President Jason Stein was excused. Also, present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna.

The meeting convened at 7:48 p.m. and ended at 9 p.m. An executive session lasting 30 minutes followed the Public Safety Committee Meeting. Another executive session following the committee of the whole lasted 20 minutes.

The spectacular Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights, now referred to as Park Main, is for sale.

The congregation of Park Synagogue, Anshe Emeth Beth Tefilo, can trace its Cleveland-area history back to 1869, when the congregation which would become Anshe Emeth was formed. As the congregation merged with another and expanded, a number of different locations were established, including Park Synagogue in Cleveland Heights.

The original portion of this sacred structure, designed in an expressionist style by internationally renowned architect Eric Mendelsohn, was completed in 1950. The accompanying school, also Mendelsohn's design, opened in 1953, and the Kangesser wing, designed by Michael A. Gallis, with Bialosky and Manders as associates, opened in 1968. Park was one of the first two U.S. synagogues designed by Mendelsohn and it became a model for religious structures across the country.

MAY 19, 2021 regular meeting

• Public comments
• City manager report
• Clerk of council report
• Police Chief’s report
• Council actions
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Also, present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting lasted one hour and 10 minutes.

MAY 24, 2021 – special meeting

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb; Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, clerk of council and finance director, and Law Director William Hanna. 

A one-hour executive session was held prior to the special meeting to cover “claims or disputes involving the public body and review of labor contract negotiations.” The special meeting lasted ten minutes.

Cleveland Heights citizens have not been asked what they think about the city’s (sixth) attempt to develop [the site at] Meadowbrook Boulevard and Lee Road.

My friends and I think that putting in an urban activity park (a space with a stage; an area to hold farmers markets, or food trucks; a water feature, etc.) is a good idea for the 1.07-acre space at Meadowbrook and Lee.

Many people agree—more than 668 have signed our Change.org online petition—and have joined with us to help make this happen.

The city of Cleveland Heights encourages eligible residents and organizations to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, available annually. This federal program, run by the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, allocates money to eligible municipalities to be used in the areas of economic development, housing rehabilitation, and programming that specifically serves low- to moderate-income persons and neighborhoods.  

In Cleveland Heights, CDBG funding has historically supported organizations that serve the aging, the disabled, and at-risk youth; wrap-around services; housing rehabilitation programming and assistance; and business development in eligible districts.

The application period for 2022 CDBG funding will open on June 3 and close on July 15. For more information about the program, and to access the online application, visit www.clevelandheights.com/CDBG.

MAY 3, 2021 regular meeting

• Public comments
• City manager’s report
• Legislation 
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting lasted 50 minutes.

APRIL 19, 2021 regular meeting

• Public comments
• Chief of police report
• Cedar/Lee/Meadowbrook
• Council approvals
• Consent agenda
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. This was Mr. Cobb’s first meeting. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna.. The meeting was one hour long.

The city of Cleveland Heights will celebrate its centennial with a series of learning opportunities and events in 2021. Residents and visitors are invited to learn about the city’s history, share their own stories, and explore Cleveland Heights’ many amenities. 

Cleveland Heights officially kicked off its centennial celebration last fall, with the launch of its “All Are Welcome” campaign. It has promoted the campaign throughout the city, with window displays, bus wraps, videos, and discussions on social media.

The city has launched a new microsite, ClevelandHeights100.com, as a hub for centennial information. The site provides a detailed history of the city, accompanied by archival photos.

This November, for the first time, Cleveland Heights voters will elect the city's mayor.

Prior to this election, Cleveland Heights has had a city council/city manager form of government, [in which city council members appointed a mayor from their own ranks]. In light of this momentous change in the city’s form of government, Cleveland Heights Democrats is planning a series of public meetings.

At its next regular monthly meeting, on May 13, 7 p.m., Cleveland Heights Democrats will feature a presentation by Len Friedson, of Citizens for an Elected Mayor.

APRIL 5, 2021 regular meeting

• Public comments
• City manager’s report
• Legislation
• Proclamations
• Purchases for public works
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. This was Mr. Cobb’s first meeting. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting began at 8:22 p.m. and ended at 10:14 p.m. The meeting was delayed about an hour by an executive session.

MARCH 24, 2021 special meeting

• MetroHealth’s proposal
• Public comments
• Planning director’s report
• Presentation
• Amendment resolution
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. This was Mr. Cobb’s first meeting. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, Law Director William Hanna, and staff members Mary Trupo and Jim Lambdin.

The meeting lasted two hours, 29 minutes, not including executive session.

MARCH 15, 2021 regular meeting

• Public comments
• City manager’s report
• Police chief’s report
• Legislation 
• Recreation committee appointment
• Council seat appointment
• Consent agenda
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Craig Cobb, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. This was Mr. Cobb’s first meeting. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, Law Director William Hanna, and Police Chief Annette Mecklenberg. The meeting lasted one hour and 17 minutes.

After more than a year, the stalemate is broken—and Cleveland Heights again has seven council members. At the March 15 Cleveland Heights City Council meeting, Council Member Davida Russell unexpectedly announced that she had concluded her preferred candidate would never be appointed and moved that Craig Cobb fill the vacancy on council.

Russell stated that she had not discussed the motion with any of her colleagues prior to the meeting, and had, in fact, decided during the meeting to make it. The regular council meeting followed a Council Committee of the Whole meeting, during which a lengthy discussion took place about a possible charter amendment regarding filling council vacancies.

Cobb said the motion came as a complete surprise to him. “I had the council meeting on in the background—not paying any attention—and then I heard my name mentioned,” he said in an e-mail.

MARCH 1, 2021

• Public comments
• City manager's report
• Council actions
• Consent agenda
• Council member comments
• Committee of the whole meeting

Present at this regular meeting were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael Ungar. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting began at 7:50 p.m. and ended at 8:30 p.m.

FEBRUARY 16, 2021

• Public comments
• City manager’s report
• Police chief’s report
• Finance director’s report
• Council action
• First readings of new legislation
• Committee of the Whole meeting

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Council Vice President Kahlil Seren, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council and Finance Director Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna.

MetroHealth will host a Zoom webinar to discuss the forthcoming expansion of its Cleveland Heights facility on Thursday, March 4, from 7-8 p.m.  

In Nov. 2020, MetroHealth announced plans to expand its behavioral health and addiction services by building on to its Cleveland Heights campus. Original plans included 110 treatment beds, a psychiatric urgent care, and specialized units.

Dr. Julia Bruner, MetroHealth's senior vice president for behavioral health operations, will discuss how the expanded facility will meet the need for increased mental health services in Cuyahoga County; and development and building team members will review the project's blueprint and timeline. A Q & A session will follow the presentations. 

The Heights League of Women Voters (LWV), a chapter of the LWV of Greater Cleveland, has added its voice to those expressing frustration over Cleveland Heights City Council’s impasse on filling the council seat that has been vacant since March 2, 2020.

In a statement, read at the Jan. 19 CH council meeting during the public comments period, the Heights LWV noted that last spring, at council’s request, it conducted videotaped interviews of the many applicants for the council vacancy left by Melissa Yasinow’s resignation. Those interviews were completed April 30, 2020, but now, nearly 10 months later, no appointment has been made.

FEBRUARY 1, 2021

• Public comments
• City manager’s report
• Chief of police report
• NOPEC grants
• February proclamations
• 2021 Appropriations
• Racial Justice Task Force
• Council member comments

Present were Council President Jason Stein, Vice President Kahlil Seren, Mary Dunbar, Davida Russell, and Michael N. Ungar. Melody Joy Hart was excused. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting was 45 minutes long.

JANUARY 19, 2021

• Public comments
• City manager’s report
• Police chief’s report
• 2021 budget
• 3750 Bainbridge Road
• Council member comments 

Present were Council Vice President Kahlil Seren and members Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael Ungar. Council President Jason Stein was excused. Also present were City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The virtual meeting lasted from 8 to 8:52 p.m.

Cleveland Heights City Council Member Melody Joy Hart is running for mayor of Cleveland Heights. Hart was the top vote-getter in the November 2019 council election. She has served one year, and attended council meetings for more than four years prior to her election.

“I bring a strong financial background and management skills to city government, together with progressive values,” stated Hart. “I will run an effective, transparent and responsive city government.”

Hart has extensive experience as an executive. She is a CPA (certified public accountant), a CTP (certified treasury professional), and is certified in financial planning and analysis. Relationship management was a key component of her work with banks, rating agencies, vendors, and investors, developing win-win solutions for all parties.

On Nov. 2, Cleveland Heights residents, for the first time, will directly elect their mayor.

In November 2019, voters overwhelmingly approved (with 64 percent voting in favor) the Issue 26 charter amendment, changing the city’s form of government to a mayor-council structure from what had been a council-city manager form.

The new mayor—who will now be directly elected by the city’s voters, rather than chosen by the city’s council members from among their own ranks—will appoint a professional administrator to help run the city, and work alongside CH City Council.

In the lead-up to the fall election, detailed below are some key dates and provisions of the new charter amendment regarding the process of electing a new CH mayor.

The mayor: The mayor is elected in a non-partisan race every four years, beginning in 2021, with no term limits.

Eric Zamft is the new planning director for the city of Cleveland Heights.

In late 2020, the city conducted an extensive search for a new planning department head to take over from Richard Wong, who retired.

The city manager and human resources director evaluated the applicants, who hailed from across the country.

"I am excited to join the Cleveland Heights community,” Zamft said. "I visited friends in Cleveland Heights a few years back and fell in love with this city. To be able to move here and help usher the city into the future is a great honor and privilege."

Cleveland Heights Council Member Melody Joy Hart is sponsoring her second forum on the city’s transition to a mayor-council form of government.

This forum, scheduled for Jan. 20, 7 p.m., will highlight the process the city of East Providence, R.I., and its community took to transition from a city manager-council form of government to a mayor-council form.

The first elected mayor of East Providence, Mayor Bob DaSilva, along with East Providence Assistant City Solicitor Dylan Conley, will share East Providence’s story with forum participants. They’ll outline the opportunities and challenges they experienced, and continue to see, under the new form of government.

JANUARY 4, 2021

• Public comments
• City manager’s report
• Chief of police report
• City manager
• 2021 budget
• Council member comments

Mayor Jason Stein, Vice Mayor Kahlil Seren, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, and Michael Unger were present. Davida Russell was absent. Also present were Acting City Manager Susanna O’Neil, Clerk of Council Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting was 46 minutes long.

DECEMBER 21, 2020

Mayor Jason Stein, Vice Mayor Kahlil Seren, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, and Michael Ungar were present. Davida Russell was absent. Also present were Acting City Manager Susanna Niermann O’Neil, Clerk of Council Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. The meeting was only three minutes long.

CARES Act funds

Council amended an appropriation ordinance to increase the amount previously enacted. This was necessary to spend, by December 31, $118,000 in CARES Act funds allocated to Cleveland Heights by the Cuyahoga County Council. Unexpected retirements also increased the income side of the 2020 budget. 

DECEMBER 7, 2020

• Public comments
• Chief of police's report
• City manager’s report
• Clerk of council’s report
• Insurance program
• Appointments
• Council leadership designations change
• COVID testing event
• Support for school funding bill
• Appropriations
• Vacant council seat
• Doan Brook
• CARES Relief Funds
• Foreclosure penalties
• Racial Justice Task Force
• Consent agenda 

Present were Mayor Jason Stein, Vice Mayor Kahlil Seren, Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Russell, and Michael Ungar. Mr. Seren arrived late, but was excused. Also present were Acting City Manager Susanna O’Neil, Clerk of Council Amy Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna.

A thirteen minute executive session was held during the committee of the whole meeting to consider the terms of a sale or lease of city-owned property. The public meeting began at 8 p.m. and lasted until 9:30 p.m.