OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Cleveland Heights City Council Special Meeting - January 12, 2026

City Council Meetings — Tuesday, January 13, 2026
BodyCleveland Heights, Ohio
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateTuesday, January 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 15:23

Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

All right.

0:10

I'd like to call this special committee uh sorry, city council meeting to order.

0:15

It is January 12th, uh 2026 at 745.

0:24

Uh Clerk Ballister, would you call the role?

0:29

CUDA.

0:30

Here Cohen.

0:31

Here, the Witfoy.

0:32

Here.

0:33

Here.

0:33

Larson.

0:34

Here.

0:35

Here.

0:35

All right.

0:35

Now that we know we're all here and there's nobody to excuse.

0:38

Um, are there any amendments to the agenda?

0:40

Yes.

0:41

Uh, I'd like to uh make a motion to admit the agenda to add essentially four resolutions.

0:46

The first being number four 2026 for first reading only.

0:51

It is for an agreement with a company to put um new seating in the um uh community center, uh 5265 uh 2026 uh for adoption.

1:05

Um first reading for adoption tonight um to uh reappoint the director of public works uh six twenty twenty-six um again for first reading for adoption.

1:22

Um the director of planning and development and uh seven twenty twenty-six uh to uh confirm the law director.

1:30

All right, that's been motioned.

1:31

Is there a second?

1:32

All right, we have a second, any discussion?

1:35

All in favor?

1:36

Aye.

1:37

Any opposed that passes.

1:39

I'd also like to look favorably on a motion to amend the agenda to add new business.

1:48

Anyone want to second?

1:49

Okay.

1:50

Um discussion on that.

1:53

All right, all in favor?

1:55

Aye.

1:56

Any opposed?

1:56

That motion passes as well.

1:58

Uh Clerk Ballister, would you read the first piece of legislation?

2:02

I have resolution number 002-2026 on first reading.

2:06

A resolution authorizing an agreement with Ken Ganley Ford Inc., DBA KG Norton LLC for the purchase of five to 2026 Ford Utility Hybrid Police Interceptors for the Cleveland Heights Police Department and declaring the necessity this legislation become immediately effective as an emergency measure introduced by Mayor Petris.

2:26

We have a so moved.

2:28

There we go.

2:28

Second.

2:29

Any discussion?

2:31

We we did discuss this in committee of the whole.

2:33

Um all in favor?

2:35

Aye.

2:36

Aye.

2:36

Any opposed?

2:37

That motion passes.

2:39

Next, I have resolution number 003-2026 on first reading.

2:44

A resolution authorizing an agreement with KG Norton LLC, DBA Ganley Ford Inc.

2:49

for the purchase of two 2026 Ford Utility Hybrid Interceptors for the Cleveland Heights Fire Department and declaring the necessity this legislation become immediately effective as an emergency measure introduced by Mayor Petras.

3:00

So moved.

3:01

Second.

3:02

All right.

3:02

Any discussion?

3:04

All in favor?

3:05

Aye.

3:06

Aye.

3:06

Any opposed?

3:07

All right, that motion passes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement███████████████████████████████████████39%
Personnel Matters██████████████████████████26%
Procedural█████████████████████████25%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Summary of Proceedings

Cleveland Heights City Council Special Meeting - January 12, 2026

The City Council of Cleveland Heights convened in a special meeting on January 12, 2026, at 7:45 PM to address several urgent personnel confirmations and vehicle procurement resolutions. The meeting also featured a discussion on establishing a future leadership retreat and training session. Mayor Petris introduced multiple resolutions, all of which passed unanimously with minimal debate after confirming that the charter necessitates immediate council confirmation for continuing appointments.

Consent Calendar

This section of the meeting covered the unanimous approval of the following resolutions:

  • Resolution 002-2026 (First Reading): Authorized the Mayor to purchase five 2026 Ford Utility Hybrid Police Interceptors from KG Norton LLC (DBA Ganley Ford Inc.) for the Police Department.
  • Resolution 003-2026 (First Reading): Authorized the purchase of two 2026 Ford Utility Hybrid Interceptors from KG Norton LLC for the Fire Department.
  • Resolution 005-2026 (First Reading): Confirmed the Mayor's appointment of Colette Klinkscale as Director of Public Works.
  • Resolution 006-2026 (First Reading): Confirmed the Mayor's reappointment of Eric Zamp as Director of Planning and Development.
  • Resolution 007-2026 (First Reading): Confirmed the Mayor's reappointment of William R. Hanna as Director of Law.
  • Resolution 004-2026 (First Reading): Authorized the Mayor to contract with Farnham Equipment Company via the Source Well Cooperative Purchasing Program for new seating and construction services in the Community Center's main gymnasium.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Councilman Posh: Expressed a strong position for organizing a leadership council retreat and training session. Councilman Posh noted that previous attempts at an "expectations meeting" failed due to internal strife and highlighted the need for the new administration to establish a vision. He advocated for a multi-hour session (5-6 hours) in March to discuss legislative agendas and goals.
  • Council Members (General): Expressed full support for Councilman Posh's proposal. Specific requests included integrating training on the "Open Meetings Act" and "Sunshine Laws." Council members discussed potential venues (e.g., Community Center) and timings (avoiding the end of March due to Passover), with the Law Director noting that such retreats must be recorded public meetings rather than executive session sessions due to a repealed ordinance.

Discussion Items

  • Personnel Confirmations: Council member addressed the necessity of these confirmations due to charter changes, stating that hearings were not required as the council already knew the individuals. The Council welcomed William R. Hanna back upon confirmation.
  • Retreat Logistics: Discussion focused on the format of the proposed retreat. Council members debated the venue, noting a previous ordinance allowing executive sessions for retreats had been repealed. The Law Director clarified that the session must be a recorded meeting. Suggestions included a Saturday morning slot (rejected by the council) or a Friday/Sunday slot at the Community Center.
  • Training Requirements: The Law Director detailed the training landscape, including the Ohio Municipal League (OML) seminar in March and the new charter's eight-hour training requirement for new members. It was noted that while existing members have decades of experience, a refresher course would be beneficial for public transparency.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous Approval: All five resolutions (002, 003, 004, 005, 006, and 007) passed with a vote of "Aye" from all present members.
  • Retreat Initiation: The Council leadership received a directive to prioritize scheduling a retreat and training session, tentatively aiming for the beginning or middle of March.
  • Next Steps: Councilwoman Addy (implied as the clerk or a specific member responsible for logistics) is tasked with sending out dates for a Doodle poll. Leadership will discuss the agenda and training options.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

All right. I'd like to call this special committee uh sorry, city council meeting to order. It is January 12th, uh 2026 at 745. Uh Clerk Ballister, would you call the role? CUDA. Here Cohen. Here, the Witfoy. Here. Here. Larson. Here. Here. All right. Now that we know we're all here and there's nobody to excuse. Um, are there any amendments to the agenda? Yes. Uh, I'd like to uh make a motion to admit the agenda to add essentially four resolutions. The first being number four 2026 for first reading only. It is for an agreement with a company to put um new seating in the um uh community center, uh 5265 uh 2026 uh for adoption. Um first reading for adoption tonight um to uh reappoint the director of public works uh six twenty twenty-six um again for first reading for adoption. Um the director of planning and development and uh seven twenty twenty-six uh to uh confirm the law director. All right, that's been motioned. Is there a second? All right, we have a second, any discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed that passes. I'd also like to look favorably on a motion to amend the agenda to add new business. Anyone want to second? Okay. Um discussion on that. All right, all in favor? Aye. Any opposed? That motion passes as well. Uh Clerk Ballister, would you read the first piece of legislation? I have resolution number 002-2026 on first reading. A resolution authorizing an agreement with Ken Ganley Ford Inc., DBA KG Norton LLC for the purchase of five to 2026 Ford Utility Hybrid Police Interceptors for the Cleveland Heights Police Department and declaring the necessity this legislation become immediately effective as an emergency measure introduced by Mayor Petris. We have a so moved. There we go. Second. Any discussion? We we did discuss this in committee of the whole. Um all in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That motion passes. Next, I have resolution number 003-2026 on first reading. A resolution authorizing an agreement with KG Norton LLC, DBA Ganley Ford Inc.

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