Thread by @DocumenterK

Hi, I'm Keith and I'll be live-tweeting today’s Monday, May 3, 2021 Cleveland City Council's Committee Chairs meeting starting at 12:00 PM for #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle

Join us at 12:09 PM & watch today's Cleveland City Council's Committee Chairs meeting here.

Notice of Meeting can be accessed here,

cityofcleveland.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?M…

Committee Chairs meeting's agenda can be accessed here,

cityofcleveland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&…

The meeting is live.

Ward 13 Council President Kevin Kelley states,

"We are moving into a political season, when you are the chair of a meeting you have to be the chair of that meeting. I would remind everybody to review the rules of council, & review Rule 6 Rules of Civility."

Council President Kelley continues,

"If you are chair, you are the presiding officer. Rule 8 requires we preserve order. It requires that you prevent attacking other people's motives or unprofessional behavior."

Ward 16's Council Member Brian Kazy requests that Council President sends out the Rules of the Council to all members as some are newer.

Council President Kelley comments that Ward 5's Council member Phyllis Cleveland is leaving and that he will be making an appointment soon. "It is unusual to be down two members."

Ward 4's Kenneth Johnson was previously suspended by special commission after a requested was made by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost after Johnson was indicted on federal charges.

Source: news5cleveland.com/news/local-new…

Ward 16's Council Member Kazy asks, "If we have a split vote, what happens?"

Council President Kelley responds, "It does not pass."

City Council quickly reflects on Kenneth Johnson and the selection process. City Council does not have the authority to replace Johsnon while he is suspended.

The Cuyahoga County Probate Court will name a replacement for Johnson.

wtam.iheart.com/content/2021-0…

The February 18 indictment against Kenneth Johnson may be accessed here,

ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Briefing…

Ward 6's Council Member Blaine A. Griffin comments, "This has taught us something valuable. I think that we should find a way to legislate to keep some of that control in our hands. .. It is not sitting well with me that the people of Ward 4 are not being consulted."

Council President responds, "This is a State statute and we would have to alter the state law. We can talk about what language we would like to say but hopefully it will never happen again."

Ward 1's Council Member Joseph T. Jones arrived late in the conversation and asks for a recap.

Council President summarizes that Judge Russo has made a decision, "He has taken the position there should not be any other influence other than his own."

Ward 1's Council Member Joseph T. Jones inquires for more information.

Council President Kelley explains,

"The Attorney General has chosen to make a request. The Supreme Court reviewed and made a decision. Now it goes to Probate court."

Attorney General Dave Yost's requests can be accessed here,

ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Briefing…

A summary of that request can be read here,

ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Media/News-Rel…

Ward 1's Member Jones responds,

"Wasn't there someone who stole 60 million dollars and is still an active member? Are we selectively targeting people?"

Council President responds, "This statute only applies to local members, not state elected members."

Per AG Yost's request, the statute they are referencing is Ohio Revised Code 3.16

Read Ohio Revised Code Section 3.16 here,

codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-c…

Ward 8's Council Member Mike Polensek is present and states,

"I think the ruling is wrong. The people should be able to make the decision. It was a bad ruling that made no sense in my opinion & as my other colleagues have indicated, everyone is innocent until proven otherwise."

Ward 8's Council Member Mike Polensek continues,

"This has not been properly and fairly enforced across the state. We all know this. Different strokes for different folks.
We still have to pay his salary. This is a wrong decision by the courts. He deserves his day in Court."

Council President Kelley encourages the conversation to return to Phyllis Cleveland and her departure.

"We are losing one of our treasured chairs and members. Council Woman, any final words of wisdom for us?"

Ward 5's Member Cleveland responds,

"Keep chairing."

Ward 3's Council Member Kerry McCormack @KerryMcCormack1,

"We are looking at the end of May for the joint update on the lead housing update."

Ward 12's Council Member Anthony Brancatelli @TBrancatelli states,

"I want to remind Council Members to get your pips in for the CDCs & we will also get an update about contracts getting done with CDCs and other nonprofit groups. We are hearing that loud & clear."

Ward 6's Council Member Griffin @GriffWard6Cle comments,

"We are getting bombarded by requests from the Public for different legislative ideas. One is regarding safety initiatives. I really ask that we have a concerted conversation about these requests."

Ward 6's Council Member Griffin continues,

"I ask that before we go on record, we have serious deliberations and discussions."

Ward 16's Council Member Kazy @kazy_brian comments,

"I want to reiterate Council Man Brancetlli's comments about CDCs."

He also reminds that every council member can send 2 nominees for the Y.O.U program .

Y.O.U is Youth Opportunities Unlimited, have or know a 8th to 12th grader in Cleveland?

Learn more here,

youthopportunities.org

Ward 1 Council Member Jones @CleveJoeJones seconds the comments about the CDCs.

Ward 12's Brancatelli reminds the Council that CDCs also faced the same problems that they faced while enduring the pandemic.

Ward 1's Jones will not belabor his point.

Today, Monday, May 3, 2021, Cleveland City Council's Committee Chairs meeting has adjourned at or around 12:45 PM.

Cleveland City Council's Committee Chairs meeting discussed

Council Members and the Rules of Council;
the suspension of Kenneth Johson & the State process for his successor;
Ward 5's Phyllis Cleveland's departure;

Cleveland City Council's Committee Chairs meeting also discussed,

Cleveland lead update circa end of May;
Y.O.U Council Member nominees;
and a notification of an upcoming update about pending contracts with CDCs.

To become involved and for more meeting coverage, check out documenters.org. Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any enquiries on the meeting or these tweets to
@cledocumenters

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