City Council

Council Minutes August 11, 2025 City Hall Council Chambers The Council of the City of Shaker Heights met in a special meeting at 7:02 p.m., Mayor David E. Weiss presiding. Council Members Present: Ms. Bixenstine Mr. Claytor Mrs. Kaus Mr. Malone Mrs. Moore Ms. Anne Williams Ms. Carmella Williams Council Members Absent: None * * * * Video of this meeting may be found here through August 11, 2028. * * * * The Mayor asked the Clerk of Council to read into the record public comments received on any of the agenda items. Clerk of Council Ms. Chaikin stated that no public comments were received on any agenda items by email or by phone. The Mayor invited members of the audience and those participating via Zoom the opportunity to “raise their hand” to provide public comment. No comments were offered. * * * * Ordinance No. 25-89, by Mr. Claytor, an ordinance confirming the appointment of Matthew P. Carroll as the Chief Administrative Officer of the City of Shaker Heights effective September 3, 2025. Mayor Weiss stated that Ms. Jeri E. Chaikin has been the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Clerk of Council for 24 years, and has announced that she will be retiring at the end of September. We all acknowledge that she has very big shoes to fill. We started the process over several months ago of searching for a new CAO, which will be the third we've had in 50 years. These are two positions under our Charter and ordinances that are appointed by the Mayor and then confirmed by City Council. After a very thorough and competitive selection process with candidates coming from near and far, he made the decision to appoint Matthew Carroll as CAO as well as our Clerk of Council. Matt brings a wealth of information and experience in public administration, has demonstrated leadership capabilities and a strong alignment with the City's values. He is exceptionally well suited to fill this position. His leadership skills, his fiscal and operational oversight, his experience dealing with legislative bodies and his vision and strategy that he discussed during the selection process all made it clear he was a terrific fit. On top of that he has great communication and interpersonal skills, is a great cultural fit, and has a work ethic that is second to none. He has over 35 years of experience in a wide range of positions. He was with the law firm of Baker and Hostetler. He worked for the City of Cleveland. He has taught at CSU and has held numerous positions with Cuyahoga County. He has volunteered on more not-for-profit groups than the Mayor can keep track of, and currently serves on the board of Say Yes to Education, the Cuyahoga Workforce Funders Group and Global Cleveland. On a more personal note he is a graduate of Brown University and Georgetown Law School. He is married to Laura Kleiman also with us tonight, who is the Executive Director of Senior Transportation Connections. They have two adult boys who both went through the Shaker Schools and Laura and Matt lived in the Ludlow neighborhood for 20 years. Mayor Weiss stated that he is very pleased to appoint Matt for these two positions. It was moved by Mr. Claytor, and seconded by Ms. Carmella Williams, that the rule requiring ordinances to be read on three different days be suspended and Ordinance No. 25-89 be placed upon its final enactment. Roll Call: Ayes: Ms. Bixenstine, Mr. Claytor, Mrs. Kaus, Mr. Malone, Mrs. Moore, Ms. Anne Williams, Ms. Carmella Williams Nays: None Motion Carried Moved by Mr. Claytor, and seconded by Ms. Carmella Williams, that Ordinance No. 25-89 be enacted as read. Roll Call: Ayes: Ms. Bixenstine, Mr. Claytor, Mrs. Kaus, Mr. Malone, Mrs. Moore, Ms. Anne Williams, Ms. Carmella Williams Nays: None Ordinance Enacted * * * * Ordinance No. 25-90, by Mrs. Moore, affirming the Mayor’s appointment of MATTHEW P. CARROLL as Clerk of Council for the remainder of the current two-year term, and designating the DIRECTOR OF LAW and the ASSISTANT DIRECTORS OF LAW as Clerks of Council Pro Tem in the absence of the Clerk of Council. Law Director William Ondrey Gruber stated that this item affirms the appointment of Matthew Carroll as Clerk of Council for the remainder of the current two-year term and designates the Director Special Council Meeting August 11, 2025 Page 142 of Law and Assistant Directors of Law as Clerks of Council Pro Tem in the absence of the Clerk of Council. The Charter says that the Clerk of Council is appointed for a two-year term coinciding with each two-year organization of Council. This Council approved Ms. Chaikin as Clerk of Council in 2023 for a term ending this year. Council is being asked tonight to approve the appointment of Mr. Carroll as Clerk of Council for the period ending this year. We will revisit this issue again at the end of this year or at the beginning of next year, with the reorganization of Council as we do every couple of years. There is one typo in Section three: the term appointed should be affirmed. With Council approval the motion would be moved as amended. It was moved by Mrs. Moore, and seconded by Ms. Bixenstine, that the rule requiring ordinances to be read on three different days be suspended and Ordinance No. 25-90 be placed upon its final enactment. Roll Call: Ayes: Ms. Bixenstine, Mr. Claytor, Mrs. Kaus, Mr. Malone, Mrs. Moore, Ms. Anne Williams, Ms. Carmella Williams Nays: None Motion Carried Moved by Mrs. Moore, and seconded by Ms. Bixenstine, that Ordinance No. 25-90 be enacted as amended. Roll Call: Ayes: Ms. Bixenstine, Mr. Claytor, Mrs. Kaus, Mr. Malone, Mrs. Moore, Ms. Anne Williams, Ms. Carmella Williams Nays: None Ordinance Enacted * * * * At 7:13 p.m. a joint Cleveland Heights/Shaker Heights Council work session was held. In attendance from Cleveland Heights: Tony Cuda, Council President Davida Russell, Council Vice President Jim Posch, Council member Craig Cobb, Council member Anthony Mattox Jr., Council member Gail Larson, Council member Jim Petras, Council member NEORSD Chief Executive Officer Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, and NEORSD Director of Watershed Programs Matt Scharver gave a presentation on the Lower Lake Dam Recommendation. * * * * Special Council Meeting August 11, 2025 Page 143 The Mayor invited members of the audience and those participating via Zoom the opportunity to “raise their hand” to provide public comment. Comments may be heard here. * * * * There being no further business before Council, the Mayor adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m. _________________________________________ DAVID E. WEISS, Mayor _________________________________________ JERI E. CHAIKIN, Clerk of Council Special Council Meeting August 11, 2025 Page 144