Bratenahl council approves employee health renewal, hires ThenDesign for municipal complex design and OKs conservation MOU; passes pay claims

Bratenahl Village Council on March 23 approved several measures including renewal of the village employee health plan, hiring ThenDesign Architecture to provide planning and design services for a proposed Village Hall, community center and police station, and a memorandum of understanding to implement soil- and water-conservation measures through 2030.

The meeting opened with a fiscal report from Fiscal Officer Diana Cooks, who said the village's 2021–22 audit was posted March 12 and that the village has taken steps to improve accounting practices, including reconciling the Uniform Accounting Network (UAN) to its operating bank account and integrating the Mayor's court into UAN. Cooks said payroll totaled just over $2 million in the prior year and employee healthcare cost about $348,000. She also disclosed that she personally repaid an overpayment to a former employee after discovering her bond had lapsed: "I paid it. It was my error." Councilmembers praised the improvements and committed to additional oversight; Mr. Dews said the goal is ‘‘to be a star audit going forward.’’

Council acted on four formal agenda items. Councilwoman Joyce Burke-Jones introduced Resolution 1452 to accept the COSE/Aetna renewal for medical, vision and dental coverage for April 1, 2026–March 31, 2027; the suspension and passage votes carried on roll call with Burke-Jones, Dews, Huffman, Kozinski and Puffenberger voting Aye. Resolution 1453, introduced by Mr. Dews, authorizes ThenDesign (ThenDesign Architecture) to provide planning and professional design services for the Village Hall, community center and police station; the Fiscal Officer was asked to complete a certificate for a $66,000 item so the vendor has an extension, and the resolution passed by roll call. Resolution 1454, introduced by Councilwoman Gina Huffman, authorizes the Mayor to enter a memorandum of understanding with the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District for technical assistance and implementation of soil-and-water conservation measures through 2030; it also passed by roll call. Finally, Ordinance 4295 directing payment of claims totaling $121,052.60 passed by roll call.

During discussion council and staff highlighted several fiscal details: a prior payment plan to repay Cleveland totaled about $838,000 and has been completed; the village expects a county rebate of roughly $42,803 related to a tax-exemption claim for the Barbara Byrd-Bennett site; restricted funds include an $82,110 reimbursement expected for the Bratenahl Road project; and the general fund carryover was reported as $745,627. Cooks said she will begin bringing bank reconciliations to council for signature each month to improve internal controls.

Council also discussed municipal operations: the mayor said the village is evaluating whether one prosecutor will suffice for mayor's court given a lighter caseload and noted a magistrate retirement at year-end; Chief Lobello explained police vehicle upfitting costs (about $20,000 per vehicle) for sirens, lights, cages and computers and that some equipment can be reused depending on vehicle body style. The council agreed to review professional-services routing so billable work is coordinated through the Mayor to limit unexpected retainer charges.

All formal votes taken on March 23 passed unanimously among the council members present. The meeting concluded after public comments and the council adjourned at 7:10 p.m.