[{"_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",6250777,"mediaKeyId","3198470-2d8c4eacd0a32634d7109c89df4bf531","parentId",3198470,"title","Council pauses HR consultant engagement pending administration cooperation on anonymous staff survey","audioSeconds",290,"startMs",5461035,"endMs",5751395,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198470-2d8c4eacd0a32634d7109c89df4bf531&start=5461&end=5751","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198470-2d8c4eacd0a32634d7109c89df4bf531/thumbnail_5461035.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6250777/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Council-pauses-HR-consultant-engagement-pending-administration-cooperation-on-anonymous-staff-survey","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250777-ac67cd970583c47dbe57a7cfa633f2b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189265&Signature=T5HXBMWNvjoKmcpyd5J0zCoPOjODCrm0ZcrLmoVrhQneKfb6P0Bxwc9C9oQQrIt4F6kCl1B8xfeo40Ezp67xE3wnslepPzlgXiRxoMzmRBTBhJC626jupyzOT3SFYFiie6wgewz0u673YQP5GMkaZ3FvaYtvASY3noq~krQ-nH6z1Ji-~vY8~puKuDY1vFbz06BmTd4Ly2yqUla6ikyyQxToqCF5D9LUNksi1T-xYP8JoqIZlPbbsjEjFDdDhq0euc1Q8FWgs15jdkgEzzC0QMAJP-CcCUwbGrE9oWTfolrbmMmT1awQfyCh8pibwI3zWbg9mHLEtkFlaMvnYHAmmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Cleveland Heights, OH","date","2025-05-06T14:01:44.987Z","article","Council members discussed retaining an outside HR consultant to explore reports of a hostile work environment, high turnover among upper management and to conduct an employee engagement survey. The council member who led the effort summarized outreach to potential consultants and recommended not proceeding unless the administration cooperates to ensure employee participation and anonymity.

The presenting council member said two consultants were contacted: one declined for capacity or political‑risk reasons; the other quoted $20,000–$25,000 to draft and administer a survey, interview willing current and former employees, analyze results and deliver recommendations. The consultant cautioned the work would be ineffective without administrative cooperation because (1) employees are unlikely to trust an anonymous process without assurances against retaliation, (2) verifying that respondents are current or former employees is difficult without administration support, and (3) low participation would skew results and undercut statistical validity.

The council member recommended pausing a formal consultant engagement until the mayor’s office agrees to assist by permitting access to employees and by guaranteeing anonymity and non‑retaliation protections. The mayor said she would meet with the council member offline and requested that council leadership participate; the council member requested that President Cuda and Vice President Russell also attend. The mayor expressed reluctance to discuss details in public session and asked to meet privately to define the scope and logistics.

Council leadership accepted the recommendation to seek cooperation and additional discussion outside the public meeting; no contract or payment to an HR consultant was authorized at the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cleveland Heights Council Committee of the Whole May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A council request to hire an HR consultant to investigate workplace concerns and run an employee engagement survey stalled after consultants warned that without mayoral cooperation and guaranteed anonymity results could be unreliable; council leadership and the mayor agreed to meet offline to discuss next steps.","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},6250781,"Council receives quarterly ARPA spending update; housing, parks and business programs outlined",554,4461994,5016145,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198470-2d8c4eacd0a32634d7109c89df4bf531&start=4461&end=5016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198470-2d8c4eacd0a32634d7109c89df4bf531/thumbnail_4461994.jpg","/articles/6250781/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Council-receives-quarterly-ARPA-spending-update-housing-parks-and-business-programs-outlined","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250781-6d97668ab5bf023d053219e9a5aa914d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189266&Signature=VTh67GGHbWNzi0ZEUz342qs7vQ76-Y73uzo20M~otMBUPpGYhVp5DYkFrIpPS9wBzgpocPBtf~c97MSrSKYL4yfhUB5yvI4Ub0Po1O7sfX0CHjPGa42-dQt1L48~UMOUuBCgd7PmyEAhM0~3sn5odyStkDY--DZ6E3UqniKgJREfPije0ITecxiR9cn94hkDhovaXxQqx0w-07I98xrmqAibBDAItm0dST6AMTk22SVvzfFmzpAFtDJvpB3ZJiqQCIRn5P1zIypo~2Fnr-QgXsF-ZlSJimVGXkFQ8z-Yn9ZXQ9oPips6RhfFEUYDW8m~sM8jRcUJ0D-nUeXt4L4T8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff provided a quarterly update on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations and program implementation, reporting spending progress across water and sewer, public safety, parks and community programs and outlining new housing and small‑business assistance initiatives.

Staff reported that approximately 60% of sewer and water ARPA funds have been expended across 25 projects and that several parks and public‑safety projects are either complete or under way (examples cited included King Park AV equipment, Kane Park restrooms and Denison Park pickleball court work). The presenter said some projects came in under estimate while others had additional engineering or construction‑management costs that affected final totals.

On housing, staff detailed three primary allocations the city will use for housing‑related programs: $1,000,000 for programming, $750,000 for down‑payment assistance, and $2,500,000 for exterior residential repair and related programs. The down‑payment assistance program is being administered by the Home Repair Resource Center (HRC); staff provided HRC’s number as (216) 381‑6100 for residents seeking information. Program rules include income limits tied to area median income (AMI) and, in some cases, forgivable portions depending on income and property location (for example, qualifying within a QCT may change forgiveness levels). Staff said applications are open and noted that owner contributions and lifetime limits apply to some programs to allow wider distribution of funds.

The exterior residential repair allocation includes multiple programs: HRC‑administered repair subsidies, a garage repair/replacement subsidy up to $5,000, a dangerous‑tree program, and a sidewalk/driveway repair program. Staff said more detailed program guidelines and outreach materials will be published and that staff will monitor implementation and may return to council with recommended allocation adjustments.

On business assistance and community investment, staff said a third‑party business assistance component is planned and that UBiz (a small business support program mentioned on the agenda) will be among the first initiatives; staff noted ARPA spending deadlines and sequencing to ensure timely use of funds.

Staff said it will provide more detailed outcome data and examples of nonprofit assistance programs by September and that certain allocation tweaks may require future council action. Several council members asked for clear, published program descriptions and application instructions for residents without internet access; staff said phone‑in applications and direct outreach would be available.

No budget transfers or additional appropriations were adopted at the meeting as a result of the update; the presentation was informational and staff will circulate materials and program guidance to council and the public.","City staff reported on American Rescue Plan Act allocations and spending status, outlined housing assistance programs (including $1M programming, $750,000 down‑payment assistance and $2.5M for exterior residential repair), and said applications for several housing programs are open.",{"_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},6250786,"Council reviews ordinance to publish mid‑range city contracts online; committee review planned",1090,2137295,3227365,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198470-2d8c4eacd0a32634d7109c89df4bf531&start=2137&end=3227","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198470-2d8c4eacd0a32634d7109c89df4bf531/thumbnail_2137295.jpg","/articles/6250786/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Council-reviews-ordinance-to-publish-midrange-city-contracts-online-committee-review-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250786-ec7c60c9c6456a6a10a9b721f3191b59/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189266&Signature=ColAngVxAT00Z8253x5yLm8CgkSUMRVd032etKxHsNP8Df4OBu4tDcx6~TWqdv80cWBBTNevk71t3LjqkxnP38ePFYjkm178EHWkv1ikjo-rUtluMH5y6WGxXGnfDHXCCaq~I0qUuoCOKkb4tjR8GI0TMPHVFcelkolURGAH0LDDdUZDtulzV5nCoDaDGfBkSvvf~PUp~UiRvLQsikNxjCXe34P7haIdz5dTpCXgCEDvjvqKxvakkyjUKmuV5RG436SifpN~YAxTsO4---IRffmqs-F9WZCK9l-2IOlBzViihzn5DXdVMA1bQCQOuWnu2mnnhevEuiDb--VNDk4ddg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cleveland Heights council members discussed a proposed ordinance to make certain city contracts and consulting agreements publicly available on the city website. The measure would require posting contracts valued between $7,500 and $50,000 within 15 days after a contract is fully executed.

Council members and the law director debated the threshold and scope. A councilor said the draft had originally proposed a lower threshold but that $7,500 was recommended after consultation; the law director described the draft as covering contracts that are not competitively bid and fall between the stated dollar thresholds. Councilors asked whether posting should include contract amendments or only the fully executed contract; the law director explained that “fully executed” meant signed by the vendor, signed by the city, and accompanied by law department and finance director signoffs where required.

Members differed on next steps. Some councilors said the ordinance could proceed on first reading without committee review; others asked that the item go to the Administrative Services Committee (or to Committee of the Whole) for more detailed technical review and to consider related transparency legislation that had been discussed previously. The mayor noted committee review is valuable for policy items so the public can follow discussion and suggest amendments. The president scheduled a committee discussion to allow members to weigh in before a later vote.

The ordinance was on the agenda for first reading; council leadership recommended a committee meeting in the coming week so members and staff can review language about posting timelines, whether to include amendments and any operational impacts of the requirement to notify council when contracts are executed.","Councilors discussed an ordinance that would require the city to publish contracts and consulting agreements between $7,500 and $50,000 on the city website within 15 days after fully executed, and debated thresholds, amendment notice and committee consideration.",{"_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},6250790,"Council advances council‑specific budget changes but stalls on $38,160 composting allocation",931,782395,1713805,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198470-2d8c4eacd0a32634d7109c89df4bf531&start=782&end=1713","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198470-2d8c4eacd0a32634d7109c89df4bf531/thumbnail_782395.jpg","/articles/6250790/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Council-advances-councilspecific-budget-changes-but-stalls-on-38160-composting-allocation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250790-836d3a87a04b417e2b7274331ec6915f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189266&Signature=XZkR2gt8Mph1zlR~ZN-afKgVHPUmvN67Dg3ONSuVVa88eassfeNtjgYahVhlm-6Rx3qc9I0HzWQTZaUtYKq6lXoYAQ~y2NEbNAcQ68-o-BeuHghPTbKnZawqiJQ2Ak-V46w2dIN3vamcJ3SCLZgcJoHLx8xxdyyg7HIu0dCK-SBcBXtFfF37MXpZBsnqePqUs5E~2D5~KLiqs~VvZ-Dz7vSL8Iu3mXIEPcARI8ktM6XE7b~7k27t-se2MahYE-SG8GDC7h1Ndysg4eKuiQRdN~rB8ijLHIJgvAQRBFMgTBFXCN8RdZwz-YDIgMVrDH9sHvHMuCcGW17bBlES3lDJYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cleveland Heights City Council Committee of the Whole reviewed an ordinance that would amend the city’s appropriations and debated where to place a proposed $38,160 allocation for a composting program.

Council members said two council‑specific items — a $10,000 internship line and a $25,000 council discretionary fund — were appropriate to include in council’s budget. An alternate exhibit circulating before the meeting also put $38,160 for a composting program into the council budget; councilors and staff disagreed about which fund should actually hold that composting money and whether the exhibit in the packet reflected the council’s intent.

Assistant Law Director Heltzel and city finance staff explained the procedural constraint: Ohio Revised Code 5705.39 requires the county auditor to certify that funds are available before most appropriations become effective. Finance staff suggested the simplest operational sequence would be to increase the general fund, transfer the amount into the refuse fund and then increase refuse appropriations so the refuse fund is not diminished. The finance director said the refuse fund’s current balance would need to be verified before any transfer.

Councilwoman Larson — the legislation’s sponsor — indicated she intended to proceed only with the two council‑specific items on first reading (the $35,000 total) and to provide exhibits showing precise line‑item changes for the $38,160 composting entry before adopting it. Several council members requested the exhibit and line‑item detail before a vote; Councilor Petrus said he supported the programs in principle but wanted to see the exhibit that shows where the $38,160 would be plugged in.

Multiple members said the administration’s finance staff and the county budget commission would handle the auditor certification and any necessary transfers. The mayor and finance director said they were coordinating with the county budget commission to confirm available balances and certification steps.

No final appropriation or transfer was adopted at the meeting; councilors agreed to move forward with first reading for the $35,000 council adjustments and to produce exhibits and fund‑balance details for the composting allocation prior to any adoption vote.","Councilors reviewed an ordinance to amend appropriations that included two council budget items and a proposed $38,160 line for a composting program. Members agreed to move forward with the $35,000 in council‑specific items for first reading while seeking exhibits and county certification before finalizing the composting allocation.",{"_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},6250796,"Cleveland Rape Crisis Center urges community outreach, launches needs survey",322,28691,351014,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198470-2d8c4eacd0a32634d7109c89df4bf531&start=28&end=351","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198470-2d8c4eacd0a32634d7109c89df4bf531/thumbnail_28691.jpg","/articles/6250796/Cleveland-Heights/Cuyahoga-County/Ohio/Cleveland-Rape-Crisis-Center-urges-community-outreach-launches-needs-survey","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250796-4d1abf3955c9f5d96d8432218f989e68/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189266&Signature=Vx~Vd1E8ZNa5htesb6FZvaxukrzO0RYVaEt2ikYsL-AEynPiaBK2PnCCfteudy19Oc8wFicZQksBwRYEvbKTngBtOJt0XvaiCAHPChkXfhO6ITZnDvFBLRPegXATnDHLrcXsXu6m-UmrBrewtfux0nPjoorF4LWjDOsX1E7V3JUGHGG8p3jMSn8IjNUewZbaoTaEp8BQfdIdiC8vECyb~4O0435aIxtrdZPGeLlksmUfXNA~KVz0Uof2au2eov9~6dIhi6k2yjAamzinpWkxfJQgUMt0MTTaxTohO9jasrkGLDgj9OZjMAocriz3zFVQLKh-hUZY7C5FOogVvsoUZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andrew Defreitas, senior director of public affairs for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, briefed the Cleveland Heights City Council Committee of the Whole on the center’s services and asked local leaders to help publicize a community needs assessment survey.

Defreitas said CRCC provides trauma-informed counseling, a 24/7 hotline and victim advocacy across Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Ashtabula counties, and runs prevention education programs that reach about 40,000 students and community members annually. He told the council the center maintains local offices, including at Shaker Square, and a Glenville drop‑in center focused on human‑trafficking survivors. He urged council members to “mention Cleveland Rape Crisis Center when someone is looking for help” and to share a QR code and web link to an anonymous community needs survey.

The briefing emphasized that CRCC’s services are free and survivor‑centered. Defreitas said the organization works with law enforcement, courts, schools and hospitals to provide victim advocacy so survivors do not need to repeat their experiences to every agency they encounter. He described prevention education delivered in local schools and community settings and noted the center has existed in the region for roughly 50 years.

Council members asked several operational questions. A council member asked whether CRCC maintains an office in Cleveland Heights; Defreitas said the center has an office in the City of Cleveland and that CRCC will send an advocate to a police station or hospital when needed. Councilwoman Larson asked whether CRCC has space inside schools; Defreitas said staff previously were in classrooms every day and that prevention programming is “one of the least funded” parts of the organization’s work, so CRCC typically responds to requests from districts for programming.

Defreitas also shared the organization’s website, clevelandrapecrisis.org, and said he was available after the meeting to answer questions. He and council members briefly discussed CRCC’s annual fundraising event (the “Sing Out”), which is being reorganized.

The council did not take formal action on the presentation; the item was informational. Defreitas asked attendees to distribute the survey link and QR code to residents and local professionals to help shape CRCC’s community needs assessment.","Andrew Defreitas of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center updated Cleveland Heights council on services across four counties, called for leaders to share referral information and asked residents to complete a community needs assessment survey.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council pauses HR consultant engagement pending administration cooperation on anonymous staff survey

Council receives quarterly ARPA spending update; housing, parks and business programs outlined

Council reviews ordinance to publish mid‑range city contracts online; committee review planned

Council advances council‑specific budget changes but stalls on $38,160 composting allocation

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center urges community outreach, launches needs survey