Waite Hill Council elects leaders, confirms appointments and adopts six ordinances

The Council of the Village of Waite Hill reorganized leadership and completed a slate of appointments and ordinance adoptions during its regular meeting on Jan. 13, 2025.

Samuel R. Knezevic was nominated by Abby Hiltsley and elected Council President after nominations were closed; Karl F. Scheucher was nominated and elected Council Vice-President. Council also unanimously elected Abby Hiltsley to serve as the council’s representative to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Architectural Board of Review.

Council read and adopted Resolution No. 2025-1, “A Resolution authorizing and directing the payment of certain sums.” It then read and, after unanimous roll-call votes, adopted six ordinances introduced at the meeting: Ordinance No. 2025-1 (authorizing the mayor to contract with Stephen L. Byron and Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz, Co., L.P.A., and confirming Stephen L. Byron as Law Director); Ordinance No. 2025-2 (confirming Richard J. Perez as Assistant Law Director and Prosecutor, providing compensation and repealing certain ordinances); Ordinance No. 2025-3 (amending the annual appropriation ordinance for fiscal year 2024); Ordinance No. 2025-4 (providing employee compensation for 2025); Ordinance No. 2025-5 (providing additional compensation for employees for quality services rendered in 2024); and Ordinance No. 2025-6 (approving a boundary adjustment by mutual consent between the Village of Waite Hill and the City of Willoughby and directing its processing).

Each ordinance was read for the first time, the council voted to suspend the rule requiring three separate readings, and then voted to adopt the ordinance at the same meeting. All recorded roll-call votes on the ordinances and the resolution were unanimous in favor; where the transcript recorded abstentions it was in the context of members abstaining on their own nominations (for example, nominees were recorded as abstaining on votes concerning their election).

Council also confirmed re-appointments and mayoral appointments: Ken Dery was reappointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission (term through Dec. 31, 2027); Adam Bowden was reappointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals (term through Dec. 31, 2029); and the Mayor’s appointments to the 2025 Charter Review Commission (Bowman Beeman, Meg Hackett, Mike Miracle, Carbery O’Brien, Greg Sommers, Gloria Wright and Stephanie Gale Winterer as chairperson) were confirmed.

The meeting concluded with reports from committee chairs and department heads, and adjourned at 9:34 a.m. The minutes were signed by Mayor Ryan W. Cox and Clerk-Treasurer Robbi Laps.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution No. 2025-1: adopted. Mover: Richard Steudel; second: Stephanie Winterer; roll-call: Doty, Hiltsley, Knezevic, Scheucher, Steudel, Winterer — all yea. - Ordinance No. 2025-1 (Law Director services agreement; appointment of Stephen L. Byron): adopted. Mover to suspend readings and adopt: Richard Steudel (motion), Karl F. Scheucher (adoption motion); unanimous roll-call. - Ordinance No. 2025-2 (Assistant Law Director/Prosecutor Richard J. Perez): adopted. Mover to suspend: Richard Steudel; adoption moved by Abby Hiltsley; unanimous roll-call. - Ordinance No. 2025-3 (appropriation amendment): adopted. Mover: Brian Doty (suspend); adoption moved by Karl F. Scheucher; unanimous roll-call. - Ordinance No. 2025-4 (employee compensation): adopted. Mover to suspend: Richard Steudel; adoption moved by Samuel R. Knezevic; unanimous roll-call. - Ordinance No. 2025-5 (additional compensation for 2024): adopted. Mover to suspend: Abby Hiltsley; adoption moved by Stephanie Winterer; unanimous roll-call. - Ordinance No. 2025-6 (boundary adjustment with Willoughby): adopted. Mover to suspend: Stephanie Winterer; adoption moved by Samuel R. Knezevic; unanimous roll-call.

Next steps

The ordinances adopting appointments and budget adjustments take effect per the emergency declarations included in their titles; Council will execute any required agreements. The Mayor indicated the Fire/EMS contract renegotiation with the City of Willoughby Hills will be brought back to Council for approval when finalized.