City Planner Jason Russell Leaves City Hall

[Lori Allen _]

It might be worth noting here that City Planner Jason Russell has quit his job at City Hall, according to John Litten's Ward 3 Facebook page.

Jason Russell has worked in the Department of Planning & Development for four years. He also serves on City Council for the City of South Euclid.

While I wish Jason the best in his future, it makes me wonder why so many people have left City Hall, especially the planning and building departments, in such a short time:

1. Dru Siley left City Hall a few months ago.
2. At least three building inspectors have quit recently.
3. Now Mr. Russell has left City Hall.
4. At least one corrections officer.

It should be noted also that at least one dispatcher and a fireman have also moved out of Lakewood. However, I believe they still work at City Hall.

[Bridget Conant]

He went with Zaremba Group.

Such a shame. He has an impressive resume and a lot of youthful energy. It's a loss.

[Brian Essi]

They had been advertising for someone to fill that position for a while now so this explains why.

No worries, "The City of Lakewood is digging, while others are still planning" Planning?

Who needs it, we have "Good News" Summers.

[Pam Wetula]

Jason Russell temporarily left his Realtor position last fall with C21 HomeStar with Mike Ferrante but not before that C21 Team was the listing agent for a couple of homes owned by the City - one on Alameda and the other I believe was on Quail.

I asked Bryce Sylvester a couple of months back how Realtors garner the opportunity to list and sell City owned properties. He said notice went out in social media and after I told him I knew that a couple of agents had told me they were on an email list, he said -yes, there was a list of agents who had worked for the city before.

I asked how the Planning Department chooses a Realtor for a Lakewood property and he responded that they use the "best and most qualified". I asked the criteria used to determine "best and most qualified" and Mr. Sylvester said there was no written criteria.

My question:
How would a Real Estate company out of Highland Heights (HomeStar) ever be the best and most qualified Real Estate listing agency for a Lakewood property when we have literally dozens of top notch Realtors who live right in Lakewood? I did ask this of Mr. Sylvester as well.

I certainly hope that in the future the City of Lakewood would seriously consider using only Realtors who live in Lakewood or minimally work in Lakewood when they market city owned properties.

I know that C21 HomeStar is a good Real Estate Company but I question how they could be the BETTER representatives when selling a west side Lakewood home than agents that live here and work this market on a daily basis.

Maybe Mr. Russell left our Planning Department so that he could be a listing agent on City properties without having a conflict of interest. He is indeed a man of much energy and talent. It IS a shame he has left our Planning Department. I don't think, however, that the Realtor he works for should have been listing Lakewood owned properties.

Good Luck to him!

[Bridget Conant]

Maybe Mr. Russell left our Planning Department so that he could be a listing agent on City properties without having a conflict of interest

Was he the listing agent on the city owned properties? If so, that appears to be a definite conflict according to publications of the American Planning Association. I would be surprised if no one in the city caught that as its so obvious.

Or, are you saying his agency got the listings? That is also odd because their are so many good local agencies and agents that really know this city - why use a Far East suburban agency that doesn't do much here?

[Pam Wetula]

Jason Russell was not the listing agent. His Team Leader was. In Real Estate though, you can be paid a commission for a listing that is under the team leader' name. You can also receive a referral fee or a commission from another agent. You can also co-list a property.

My best, educated guess is that Mike Ferrante or another agent listed the properties and that Jason Russell received a commission or a referral fee on these properties. 1617 Alameda - 2126 Quail.maybe others.

I am not saying this is illegal.

I am saying that it is not fair to Lakewood Realtors to not receive these listings when the relationship between Jason Russell as a Lakewood Planning employee and Jason Russell , Realtor with 21 Mike Sells of Highland Heights existed.

Again, C21 HomeStar is a great company & Jason Russell a nice man but I don't believe we don't have the "best & most qualified" Realtors right here in Lakewood to handle City owned properties.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I only ha a handful of conversations with Jason. One was right after hiring, and Dru walked in and said, "You are not allowed to talk to Jim."

I always found him a straight up guy with amazing candor and honesty. Like Mike that worked in the Mayor's office, they were a pleasure to see in City Hall.

As for the rumblings and the recently fleeing. Building and Planning went through major changes over the past 8 years.

Not make excuses for anyone, we lost a lot of good people.

.

[Lori Allen _]

Through what I have gathered in my research over the past few weeks, it would appear that Mr. Russell, although physically leaving City Hall, will not actually be going anywhere. Stay tuned for an information dump about Mr. Russell and Zarmeba Group's seemingly strong link to Lakewood, City Hall, and some City Hall contractors. The dump should happen later today.