Cuyahoga County committee approves two executive board appointments

The Cuyahoga County Human Resources Appointment and Equity Committee on Dec. 2 approved two of the county executive's nominations, moving both measures forward by suspending a required second reading and voting them into effect.

Meltrace Sharp was reappointed to the Cuyahoga County Audit Committee for a term running Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2029. Ben Schafer, speaking on behalf of the county executive, asked the committee to suspend the second reading under “section 11.01 of the charter” and advance the reappointment. Sharp, appearing remotely, told the committee she looked forward to “continuing our shared work of safeguarding the county's financial integrity and strengthening the systems that support accountability.” Vice President Conwell asked whether Sharp was the only woman on the audit committee; Sharp said she believed she was. Following a brief round of questions from members about her experience and priorities, the committee voted 'Aye' with no opposition recorded to approve the reappointment.

The committee then considered Resolution 20250334 to appoint Laurel Domanski Diaz to the Cuyahoga County Community Based Correctional Facility (CBCF) Governing Board to fill an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2027. Schafer again recommended the nominee and requested suspension of the second reading. Domanski Diaz described her background in health care safety-net work, including managing the correctional medicine program at the county jail for five years, and said she supported the executive's vision for a more humane, rehabilitative justice system. She also noted operational issues she observed during a site visit, including that several housing units had been closed and that capacity and referral patterns had at times limited the facility's use. Members discussed board composition and meeting logistics; Schafer said the board meets quarterly (January, April, July and October, on the second Friday) and identified Jeffrey Shively as the board chair. The committee voted 'Aye' with no opposition recorded to approve Domanski Diaz's appointment.

Both approvals were advanced by motions to suspend the second reading and were passed by voice vote; the committee did not record a roll-call vote in the meeting transcript. The meeting was convened at about 10:21 a.m. at the Cuyahoga County Administrative Headquarters, was livestreamed, and was adjourned after the appointments were approved.

Actions taken were procedural confirmations of the executive's nominations; neither vote produced an amendment or referral to another committee. The committee received no public comments for this meeting.