Dear Residents,

On behalf of my staff, Village employees and your elected members of Council I would like to wish you a happy and healthy 2022. I’m very proud of our accomplishments in 2021 and would like to relate once again that our successes are not the result of any one individual. Our healthy reserves to be carried forward this year, coupled with an aggressive budget that will be considered this March, are only possible if we all work together. Village Administration, our professional staff and members of Council all play a key role in these successes. In 2022 we will be administering a healthy Road Program that will address infrastructure in need of improvement. We will also be addressing improvements to Village Park and the area surrounding our beautiful new pavilion. Some examples of items we are submitting for budget approval include plans to improve our cul-de-sacs with newer landscaping, body worn cameras for our Police Department, technology upgrades for Council Chambers, new road signage, improvements at the James. A. Garfield Birth site, entertainment programming for Village Park and additional updated signage throughout the Village. We must also include increases on some of our contracted services which may be a bit higher than normal in 2022. These increases are due to adjustments made over the past year to deal with the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples include increases to our contracts with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and the Chagrin Valley Dispatch Center. Rest assured we are constantly evaluating our needs, services and reserves so that our budget is healthy and postured to adapt to sudden downturns should they ever arise.

On the legislative side we are proud to relate that our Village will be considering the addition of a new Diversity and Inclusion Commission. The concept of this Commission came from outgoing Councilwoman Monica Sturgis. After researching and discussing with Village Council, our Ordinance was drafted by the Village Law Director and was then placed on three readings. If passed by Village Council, this Commission will meet quarterly and will provide an annual report to the Village. This report will include suggestions for improvements in messaging, inclusion and procedural areas such as hiring and recruitment. The Diversity and Inclusion Commission will be made up of Moreland Hills residents and will be open to all ages and demographics. The ordinance establishing the Commission encourages the appointing authority to consider at least two members who are between the ages of 16-24 years. Residents may elect to attend our next Village Council meeting in February when the Ordinance will be presented for the next successive reading. Members of the Commission would be appointed by the Mayor and each member of Council. Members would not be compensated and their participation would be in an advisory capacity. Members would have no legislative authority. That is not to imply that their suggestions will be ignored or glossed over. I’m proud of our track record in this area but there is always room for improvement. I want to personally thank Councilwoman Sturgis and Council President Steve Richman for their efforts related to this Commission.

A sincere thank you to all who contributed to the Moreland Hills Police and Employees Foundation this past year. On December 17^th I had the pleasure of sharing lunch with our employees as resident Bob Norwick handed out the Holiday checks to a grateful audience. We truly live in a special community and your appreciation for our employees never goes unnoticed.

Lastly, I would like to thank outgoing Council Members Paul Stanard and Monica Sturgis for their dedication to this wonderful Village. Residents in our Village have been well represented by these two and they will be missed. We look forward to working with their replacements William Janke and Tom Fish who will be sworn in this month. I can assure our residents that our constant goal of leadership with civility and respect will continue.