University Heights City Council meeting highlights

DECEMBER 19, 2016

  • Jerry Jacobson named citizen of the year
  • Application for lot split, consolidation
  • Ordinances for 2016 expenses amended
  • City budget for 2017
  • Cedar-Taylor streetscape
  • Refuse vehicles purchased
  • Update on 3505 Tullamore Road
  • Fire truck repair
  • Finance director

Mayor Susan Infeld and council members Susan Pardee (vice mayor), Pamela Cameron, Phillip Ertel, John Rach, Steven Sims, Michele Weiss and Mark Wiseman were present. Also present were Luke McConnell, law director; Larry Heiser, finance director; and Kelly Thomas, clerk of council.

The meeting was held from 7:05 to 9:35 p.m.

Jerome ‘Jerry’ Jacobson named citizen of the year

Mayor Susan Infeld presented Jerry Jacobson, a University Heights resident since 1950, with a certificate naming him 2016 citizen of the year. Jacobson, a member of the police auxiliary unit since 1977, is a longtime member of the Memorial Day Parade committee. The mayor noted that he’s been involved in every road race in the city and has trained countless auxiliary police members, many of whom were in the audience. Jacobson thanked the city for the opportunity to serve the UH community.

Application for lot split, consolidation

Council approved the planning commission’s recommendation that an application for lot split and consolidation at 2496 Traymore Road be approved. The owner will purchase a 3-foot by 67-foot strip of land from a neighboring property.

Ordinances for 2016 expenses amended

Council amended ordinances, on second reading, for current expenses and city other expenditures for the period beginning Jan. 1, 2016, and ending Dec. 31, 2016. Finance Director Larry Heiser reported that he increased the final transfer ordinance by $10,000, so the final budget needed to be increased by $10,000 as well.

City budget for 2017

Council approved, on second reading, the appropriation of funds for current expenses and other expenses commencing Jan. 1, 2017, and ending Dec. 31, 2017.

Cedar-Taylor streetscape

Council approved, on emergency, an application for a $150,000 grant from the Cuyahoga County Community Development Block Grant 2017 Muni Grant program for streetscape improvements at Cedar and Taylor roads. Patrick Grogan-Myers, the city’s community development coordinator, came before council to answer questions. The grant, submitted on Dec. 23, would be used to level sidewalks to make them pedestrian friendly and ADA compliant. If the grant is approved and funding [is sufficient], benches and planters will be installed in city-owned areas.

Refuse vehicles purchased

Council accepted a bid for two refuge collection scooters. Service Director Jeffrey Pokorny received two bids, one from Middlefield Farm and Garden of Mentor for $30,100, and one from ABC Equipment Rental and Sales in Brunswick Hills for $30,699. On Pokorny’s recommendation, council accepted the bid from Middlefield Farm and Garden.

Update on 3505 Tullamore Road

Mayor Infeld informed council that, within the next 30 to 60 days, the Cuyahoga Land Bank will determine whether the house at 3505 Tullamore will be demolished or renovated. Council expressed surprise, as some members thought the property had been scheduled for demolition. The mayor explained that when demolition funding was approved last January, they were told there would be an 18-month demolition/renovation window. Councilman Rach, an architect, said that he believes the home is beyond repair and needs to be demolished. Despite the mayor’s reservations, Vice Mayor Pardee made a motion to demolish the property sooner, saying it was poisoning the neighborhood. The motion proposed use of city money, not to exceed $14,900, to demolish the house within 60 days to ensure that the property, which has become a neighborhood nuisance, is addressed sooner than later. The motion was seconded and passed.

Fire truck repair

Fire Chief Douglas Zook asked council to authorize $5,122 to repair an aerial ladder on a fire truck. A motion was made and council approved the repair.

Finance director

Finance director Larry Heiser has accepted a position in another city.

LWV Observer: Siobhan Leftwich.

These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Anne McFarland, Charlene Morse and Maryann Barnes. To receive e-mail postings of full reports, send an e-mail 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 of Greater Cleveland. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.

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Volume 10, Issue 2, Posted 11:28 AM, 01.14.2017