Cuyahoga County committee confirms multiple board appointments, including workforce and mental-health nominees

CLEVELAND — The Cuyahoga County Human Resources Appointment and Equity Committee on April 15 confirmed a slate of appointments and reappointments to county boards and commissions, approving nominees for workforce development, mental-health services, community-improvement and department review panels.

The committee confirmed Alan K. Neville to the City of Cleveland/Cuyahoga County workforce development board to fill an unexpired term ending June 30, 2026. Chris Alvarado, speaking on behalf of the county executive, said the workforce board recently moved from a state entity to a nonprofit that operates as Greater Cleveland Works and that Neville will occupy a workforce seat focused on health care. "This is literally a diamond in the rough," Neville said of Cleveland, arguing the county must "match up talent to all the different opportunities" and use "nontraditional ways" to recruit and retain workers.

Two nominees were confirmed to the county's alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services board. Norman A. Bliss, president of Community Reinvestment Advisors, told committee members his 30-year banking and community reinvestment background gives him experience in delivering capital and resources to underserved communities. "When I do my job to the fullest of my abilities, we impact people's lives," Bliss said. The committee accepted a proposed substitute to align Bliss's term with a vacancy that expires June 30, 2025, then approved his confirmation by voice vote.

Hallie R. Israel, an attorney at BakerHostetler, described legal and advocacy work and cited academic research examining links between socioeconomic status and alcohol-related campus behavior. She also disclosed personal experience with a loved one who died by suicide, saying that lived experience informs her commitment to the board’s work. Committee members praised her presentation and approved her appointment by voice vote after suspending second reading.

The committee also approved reappointments to the Cuyahoga County Community Improvement Corporation: Richard C. Perry for a term through Jan. 1, 2026, and Brian E. Hall for a term through Jan. 1, 2028. Director Chris Alvarado said staff is "recalibrating the terms" to ensure staggered service after notice that some terms had lapsed. Hall highlighted the board's recent approvals of minority-led projects and urged better performance tracking so the board can demonstrate return on investment for future loans.

A separate resolution (20250138) was held at administration request because an appointee was unable to attend. The committee finished by confirming Donna Lynn Williams Alexander to the county Department Review Board; Williams Alexander, a former EEOC trial attorney and federal administrative judge, said she was willing to serve on the reconstituted debarment review board.

Most confirmations were handled under second-reading suspension and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The committee closed with brief acknowledgments to nominees and adjourned.

What the committee did

- Confirmed Alan K. Neville to the workforce development board (unexpired term ending 06/30/2026). - Confirmed Norman A. Bliss to the alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services board (term adjusted to align with vacancy). - Confirmed Hallie R. Israel to the alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services board (07/01/2024–06/30/2028). - Reappointed Richard C. Perry to the Cuyahoga County Community Improvement Corporation (term through 01/01/2026). - Reappointed Brian E. Hall to the Cuyahoga County Community Improvement Corporation (term through 01/01/2028). - Held Resolution 20250138 at the administration’s request. - Confirmed Donna Lynn Williams Alexander to the Department Review Board (term through 01/31/2027).

The committee did not record roll-call tallies in the transcript; approvals were announced by voice vote after motions to suspend second reading.