What Does The City Council President Do?
What Does The City Council President Do?
The President of the City Council in Maple Heights is an important leadership role. Overall, the Council President is the central figure in making sure the City Council runs smoothly, stays accountable, and serves the community effectively. They run all Council meetings, and unlike City Council members who represent their district, the Council President is elected to represent the entire city. While the Council President usually doesn’t vote, they break ties when needed and can also call special meetings in urgent situations.
They appoint Council members to lead Council committees, supervise the Clerk of Council, and help shape the Council’s agenda and legislation. The President is also involved in public safety boards, zoning reviews, and several other city boards that impact everything from recreation and traffic to nuisance enforcement and aging services.
Council Effectiveness
As President of Council, I will prioritize strengthening the internal operations of the Maple Heights City Council to ensure it is more transparent, responsive, and effective for our residents. This includes:
Bringing back effectiveness to City Council meetings. Promoting professionalism and decorum in Council proceedings and ensuring that Council meetings are a place for City Council Members to hear the concerns of citizens.
Advocating for a more effective and ethical use of Council Committees by holding Council members accountable for their use of tax dollars through Council Committee funds.
Upgrading technology to improve communication, documentation, efficiency, and most of all, transparency of public meetings and records.
Making all Council meetings live-streamed in order to enhance resident accessibility.
Leading by listening, and not just during election season. Launching a regular City Council newsletter, podcast, and coordinating Council participation in community events.
Council Accountability
Maple Heights deserves a Council that leads by example and holds itself to the highest standards. I will:
Ensure that the City Council is working for residents by holding Council members accountable for attendance, timeliness, and respectfulness during City Council meetings.
Request that all Council members submit logic models outlining the purpose, goals, and impact of their respective committees when using tax dollars.
Strengthen supervision and clarity of responsibilities for the Clerk of Council.
Establish attendance tracking and public reporting for City Council members for all Council meetings.
The council must play a proactive role in addressing community issues. I will advocate for Council Committees and Councilmembers to advance initiatives targeting:
Maternal and infant mortality reduction
Asthma prevention and care.
Access to clean water.
Cancer screening and protection.
Financial literacy courses and saving plan workshops.
Support and/or vote to pass a resolution finally recognizing Pride Month in the City of Maple Heights