[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6270584,"mediaKeyId","3033334-1d21a721c8ff4b434300bc81fd23775b","parentId",3033334,"title","Committee favors nine-member charter review commission; suggests 7 council, 2 mayor appointments","audioSeconds",540,"startMs",8020000,"endMs",8560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033334-1d21a721c8ff4b434300bc81fd23775b&start=8020&end=8560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033334-1d21a721c8ff4b434300bc81fd23775b/thumbnail_8020000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6270584/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Committee-favors-nine-member-charter-review-commission-suggests-7-council-2-mayor-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270584-4409472311b4c438a6c6a656e62d8d0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186781&Signature=c1ljWHcwz6hkmalk89PRp-2y9K0yi6ipiFgLpGc3Obnot40q0e6sbADaLEp01r0VPdTR36PQd4SlzwXlS1am7XaUfFkAlyAPgvZHrbyLSC-zR3clNtPIUfEyzWqyM5pR8UF9543Z2yZQjI9hZYqZ3CE8JKk~-R0SgaL2Cbzh9kLziuDHKp~EChgUEp1ZGXvDkrJXy~kCR6aoMXex3Vq~jGFxrujnUn97daot5bN1OsjZBadtfNrZX6fxMyfoXn6QcqwINsW5KvZU-xU-acwQCeyhEKOunx~YJ5kmGrhEGccfcPWW~krxZP7FtGNvwDjKefFKAkk0grY3xQS7Yttw8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Cleveland Heights, OH","date","2025-04-17T06:05:49.34Z","article","The committee discussed the process for future charter reviews and the composition of the commission that would conduct them.

Members said they prefer a nine-member commission. Several advocated that council should provide the majority of appointments while still allowing the mayor to nominate members; one common compromise suggested in committee notes was seven appointments by council and two by the mayor (the mayor’s nominees subject to council confirmation). Committee members asked the law director to draft language specifying the commission size (nine members), appointment method (7 council / 2 mayor with council confirmation) and a 30-day appointment deadline to reduce delays.

Why it matters: the charter review commission will draft or recommend future charter changes; its composition and appointment mechanics determine how representative and timely future charter reviews are.

The law director will return with redlined charter language for Article 14 that sets the commission size and gives the committee a clear appointment procedure.

Ending: The committee expressed consensus on a nine-member commission and directed the law director to draft the 7/2 appointment structure and supporting timeline language for council review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cleveland Heights Special Council Committee of the Whole April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members agreed on a nine-member Charter Review Commission and discussed appointment mechanics; many supported a 7-to-2 split (council to mayor appointments) and directed the law department to codify the structure in draft charter language.","taxTitle","Cleveland Heights, Cuyahoga County, Ohio","taxId",54271,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270588,"Committee asks legal review of budget reporting, reserves and temporary appropriation language",426,7240000,7666000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033334-1d21a721c8ff4b434300bc81fd23775b&start=7240&end=7666","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033334-1d21a721c8ff4b434300bc81fd23775b/thumbnail_7240000.jpg","/articles/6270588/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Committee-asks-legal-review-of-budget-reporting-reserves-and-temporary-appropriation-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270588-6ffc1b221504149f8d247a2daab0a213/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186781&Signature=o3mD5fmt6OB1C49jkAUH4M6HZWuKNC~G0FPyTAiimGaDeZqK6MDBp3l6LvHb05B6VuCL93Y5pO7vD1dAODW39bc3dx9cxzfW5lm6xAX8g1Ig8136004wa3sOG-nGziDlOjbPeXCI3xkG-Bq4JL8sKuLBZGaDV1-ew~x3lUa20sFGSO8q42gHlNZKljn64BInRYHQEWLQa-CCR26vvchiWyaoV994PxrzlPJKokHCFxbCU6I959sfBdwPhlZoWSXBYXQgAUmCjLWdYhacvdFgEhoduYbyS-JiWw0ZufnGdgUWQLWELNMwy6AxRCbV5Lu6ZyGjY3mD~gq03jFWufUBXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee returned to Article 9 finance provisions and requested legal research on two related topics: how to require regular written/quarterly financial reporting tied to the budget process, and how the charter should treat appropriations that draw on reserves.

Why it matters: Council members said recent budget actions showed a gap between the charter’s drafting language and how appropriations were implemented; one member said the most recent budget had expenditures that exceeded the charter’s reference to estimated revenues. Committee members asked the law director to find charter language used in other Ohio cities that gives council authority to require the finance director to produce interim or temporary appropriation drafts and to define when reserves may be used to supplement annual revenues.

The law director recommended returning examples of charter language and ordinance options that would allow council, by ordinance, to require the finance director to prepare interim appropriations or temporary budgets, and to spell out reporting timelines (for example, a September 1 written report tied to the budget process and periodic financial reports). The committee asked for model language the council could adopt by ordinance if the charter does not itself require a particular schedule.

Ending: Law Director to research sample charter provisions and drafting options that clarify (a) the finance director’s duty to furnish information and written periodic reports, (b) how temporary appropriations are to be prepared and approved, and (c) whether and how reserves may legally supplement estimated revenues in an appropriation ordinance.","Members asked the law department to locate charter language and sample provisions that would compel finance to provide reports and to clarify whether appropriations may exceed estimated revenues when reserves are available; research requested ahead of June drafting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270593,"Committee narrows petition thresholds and discusses filing dates and ranked-choice voting",1019,5481000,6500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033334-1d21a721c8ff4b434300bc81fd23775b&start=5481&end=6500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033334-1d21a721c8ff4b434300bc81fd23775b/thumbnail_5481000.jpg","/articles/6270593/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Committee-narrows-petition-thresholds-and-discusses-filing-dates-and-ranked-choice-voting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270593-c98254410261e351e3e3912c184b4217/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186781&Signature=MCXUoaGpL3~GPZh9Yj33qEu45SZkc539HyIq6FjN7froleFf6ePhcoe~fscvsZi9G9bRoC7MGsk~8Szr7BAcZzSF93RtWtc-5P0D90GwICdIBcxiHevPCj-QHmdDJGF3gnSwP2nx1kbtOI9FMLDPa47ooucxVKtXb1Il9XlDWUbV0wcVSy8DI54LmGH4faxgRcRNEMrXD92yNRDaY5BAUlEUSEiAMddK~Ngxvp0vOk19sq0Q8j2k5nBPxShJQsX4hC8wVRVh58lFTzR72tYV3FQfWNQAMMnV2o338pasRXy-hqehnuV4PD0GWKBWLZlfAPL~JXH7~EAEFHGuXvPezQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee reviewed Article 7 election provisions and reached several practical decisions and directions for staff.

Key outcomes: the committee accepted a hard-number petition threshold of 225 signatures (removing a purely percentage‑based formula) for the council petition mechanism and removed limits on how many separate petitions an elector may sign. Members also discussed the filing deadline for mayoral and council candidates and expressed differing views about whether the deadlines should be synchronized; no change was adopted at this meeting.

Ranked-choice voting (proposed Article 7.7) drew mixed views. Some members said they opposed placing ranked-choice voting in the charter now; others said it should appear on the ballot. The committee instructed the law director to keep ranked-choice voting on the worklist but treat it later in the drafting schedule so other items are prioritized.

On initiative, referendum and recall thresholds the committee discussed moving some signature requirements from the commission recommendation and settled informally on a set of percentage thresholds (committee notes show 10% for initiative, 15% for referendum, 15% for recall) for further drafting and legal review.

Ending: The law director was asked to incorporate the 225 fixed-signature threshold and to provide options and legal analysis on filing-date alignment, ranked-choice implications for primaries and vacancy elections, and curing periods or signature‑cure procedures used by other Ohio municipalities.","Committee agreed to reduce the petition threshold for council petitions to a fixed number (225) and discussed (but did not resolve) whether council and mayor filing dates should match; ranked-choice voting was referred for further legal review and placed late in the drafting queue.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270598,"Committee backs adding Human Resources department; splits on council confirmation of director hirings and firings",1486,2165000,3651000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033334-1d21a721c8ff4b434300bc81fd23775b&start=2165&end=3651","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033334-1d21a721c8ff4b434300bc81fd23775b/thumbnail_2165000.jpg","/articles/6270598/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Committee-backs-adding-Human-Resources-department-splits-on-council-confirmation-of-director-hirings-and-firings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270598-7561b543d2388d3b74498878bafa3fa9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186781&Signature=eb~j9pmmO7N7A~gBnYHKvBHSsdkFojiY0l42bpZQdUUzacc2NpQgjbk76ZkCefCuTQ5RrF~Lrrdcjm4ZiagpyebL-Btg04kTrzkC69A9Rq73Ox06vLYqCOqeDMhzcROexpVqtNecwlK0x6YJLO-daY3z9bHKtTj4JE~wP9N4VsGli9DhAx--1Lw8SRnYvYYakujCqQ--8t446m4t9IsjCCj8d5UWd-iVULBsCF0M27~m6mdfBEWcgtmi-EWHBqHboZxQsyOQdk7ZYeG8rxVa2XOyj-Bq-zGDgWNP8OSMsu2D7~8SoIwX6vfqbNmpA09u7kMzdSJsdFqOAHP2Lqq0ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Special Committee of the Whole discussed Article 5 (administrative officers and departments) at length and agreed to add a Department of Human Resources to the list of city departments. Committee members said the city’s size and personnel challenges make a dedicated HR function necessary.

Why it matters: Council members argued a separate HR department would provide an internal mechanism for personnel complaints and protections for employees; some said it is essential to remove perceived conflicts where department heads may be asked to act in ways that create retaliation risk.

Councilwoman Russell said the city needs more consistent reporting and employee protections and argued for regular oral and written reports from administration: “maybe a yearly report, maybe a written report to council with the budget to, specify everything that happened all year,” she said. Several members also urged clearer charter language describing the city administrator’s reporting schedule; the committee discussed tying an annual written report to the budget schedule, with periodic (quarterly) financial updates for council.

On appointment and removal authority for department heads, the committee did not reach a majority to require council confirmation of removals. Several members favored requiring council confirmation for positions they singled out as sensitive — law, finance and HR — while other members said forcing council approval of removals would hamstring a mayor’s ability to manage an administration. The group agreed there is a difference between ordinary personnel changes and terminations tied to alleged interference with investigatory duties.

The committee directed the law department to draft (a) language adding a Department of Human Resources to Article 5, (b) options for whether council should confirm hires or removals for specific director-level positions (with examples of each approach used by other Ohio cities), and (c) sample timing and reporting language for the city administrator (e.g., September 1 written report tied to the budget and periodic financial reports). The law director will return with model charter text and ordinance options.

Ending: The committee agreed to add HR to the administrative departments list and sent unresolved questions about confirmation/removal authority and reporting schedules to the law department for research and proposed draft language.","Cleveland Heights' committee agreed to add a stand-alone human resources department to the city's administrative code but found no committee consensus on requiring council sign-off to remove or hire certain department heads; law department to draft language options.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270603,"Committee debates council powers, residency and vacancy rules; law director asked to draft charter language",1178,32000,1210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033334-1d21a721c8ff4b434300bc81fd23775b&start=32&end=1210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033334-1d21a721c8ff4b434300bc81fd23775b/thumbnail_32000.jpg","/articles/6270603/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Committee-debates-council-powers-residency-and-vacancy-rules-law-director-asked-to-draft-charter-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270603-6850f4bead958006a9a8cb99e6673184/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186781&Signature=OTDceh5lySJiLNQz81RxCYq1PTTd-V-q826VJcrZstKXcvxEc32qa~PSQt8iuz2nm98hxjmpKv185lt2Y0Mwgpkf1J1I3z5ERY95Y~XyXRJwwv-pDaoksvL9APJ31jeeTaSNXqmyBKR~VQfH6aY~ZKMcU5H83zPhoxOoFEyJ2GPHlaFUoauM0TJkSBx3Ctdt2Aza9OB4yBdJxABgldOgUEsfqhRnyrKVGQK7uVrUIN3OA7aX-410qzkL2uNWCs3PqDj7kk6tC1KsvHaVihi~yJR24HeJYVq9ETTkdbclNEnyYmbOIQ7guY1MWOhXsAUqjiTqXMICFtf~FTNel~rykA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cleveland Heights' Special Committee of the Whole spent the meeting reviewing proposed Charter Review Commission language on council powers and related procedural items, and asked the law director to draft ordinance- and charter-level text for the next review cycle.

The discussion covered several discrete items the committee asked the law department to prepare for formal consideration: increasing the candidate residency requirement to 12 months, clarifying when a vacancy becomes official (and whether the vacancy clock starts on notice, receipt of a resignation letter, or council acceptance), explicit virtual-meeting attendance and voting rules, and whether the charter should more clearly state council investigatory and subpoena power.

Why it matters: the committee agreed these are foundational rules that will affect election eligibility, how quickly vacancies are filled and how council can compel evidence or testimony when conducting oversight. The law director was given direction to research statutory backstops and produce draft language the committee can convert into legislation and — if needed — ballot questions.

Committee members repeatedly emphasized that some of the questions can be addressed now by ordinance, while others may require charter text to avoid future ambiguity. Law Director Bill Hanna told the committee “currently that is addressed by ordinance,” and recommended the law department produce a fuller report and draft language explaining options for (a) requiring a written resignation, (b) specifying when the vacancy clock starts, and (c) any enforcement mechanism tied to state law (he cited ORC provisions). Councilman Cobb, who said he had earlier expressed concern about abuse, told colleagues “there is a need for us to be able to have subpoena power” under some circumstances; the committee asked Hanna to research ORC 705.21 and other controlling law and return with options.

On virtual meetings, Hanna recommended buttressing home-rule authority in the charter to permit remote attendance and voting where council chooses, but leaving flexibility so a future council could impose restrictions by ordinance. Several members said they want permissive charter language so a member who attends virtually can count toward quorum and vote if the council so ordains; others said the charter should leave room for a future council to limit remote voting if warranted.

The committee agreed to ask the law department to prepare draft amendments and to return sample ordinance language by the next review milestone so the body can decide what to send to voters and what to adopt by ordinance.

The meeting adjourned after the committee set timing goals for a legal draft in May and draft legislation in June in order to meet a planned November ballot timeline.

Ending: The committee did not adopt final charter language at this meeting; it directed the law department to research statutory interfaces (including ORC 705.21), draft proposed charter and ordinance text addressing vacancies, remote participation and subpoena/ investigatory authority, and return for a follow-up review.","Cleveland Heights' Special Committee of the Whole reviewed proposed charter changes covering council candidate residency, when a vacancy is official, virtual meeting rules and council investigatory/subpoena powers and directed the law department to draft implementable language for later review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee favors nine-member charter review commission; suggests 7 council, 2 mayor appointments

Committee asks legal review of budget reporting, reserves and temporary appropriation language

Committee narrows petition thresholds and discusses filing dates and ranked-choice voting

Committee backs adding Human Resources department; splits on council confirmation of director hirings and firings

Committee debates council powers, residency and vacancy rules; law director asked to draft charter language