Council 09.17.2007

[Stan Austin]

Council President Robert Seelie called the September 17, 2007 meeting to order at 7:35.

Human Services Director Dottie Buckon submitted a resolution which acknowledged the efforts of the Lakewood Initiative for Financial Education (LIFE) partners and Volunteers in Tax Assistance (VITA). These volunteers work to increase financial literacy and filing for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

EITC is the country’s largest anti poverty initiative. But, it is not fully accessed by all eligible families in Lakewood. Through public information, outreach efforts, financial literacy programs and free self preparation tax clinics, the LIFE partnership has worked since 2003 to expand the number of EITC filings and help residents build financial stability. VITA volunteers coordinated by Beth Ann Komara and Feliks Magrein, conducted free tax clinics at the Lakewood Public Library Main and Madison branch and completed a total of 206 returns.

Following the presentation picture of the volunteers, Buckon, and Mayor Thomas George agents of the Internal Revenue Service gave a brief overview of that agencies’ community outreach effort.

The Cliffs condominium project is taking another step forward. This dramatic project which is to be constructed along the Lakewood shore of Rocky River ran into some procedural roadblocks after it was initially proposed by The Foran Group two years ago.
The roadblock was real. The Metroparks had authority and ownership of a roadway that led up to the property line of the new development. An extension of that roadway onto the Cliffs property was essential to building the project and access after it was built. The Metroparks Director expressed misgivings about extending the road, citing safety concerns.

Mayor George and the Planning Department initiated discussions with the Cuyahoga County Commissioners who have authority over the Metroparks to allow construction to proceed. George received support from Commissioners Hagan, DiMora, and Peter Lawson Jones who made a personal visit to the site. This intervention by George convinced the Commissioners to order Metroparks to allow the construction.

At the meeting, a Tax Incremental Financing agreement which includes road building funds was passed. If you drive along Sloane Avenue you will see the fenced off construction site.

Some politicians dream of “rock starâ€Â