Committee Members in Attendance: Abe Bruckman; Steve Henstridge; Christine Kowalski; Matt Reitz; Robyn Sandys

1. Mediation update

There have been two meetings. Discussions at the mediation meetings are confidential.

2. Deb Zeleny and Russ Panas legal actions

We submitted a claim to our insurance and learned that it will cover the Deb Zeleny lawsuit. The firm of Littler & Mendelson is representing OBCDC. The insurance company may count the expense we incurred with Cowden & Humphrey toward meeting the $5,000 deductible.

Cowden & Humphrey filed an answer in court in the Russ Panas lawsuit. The City of Cleveland also filed an answer seeking dismissal of the lawsuit.

3. City of Cleveland contract

After we filed our contract application for next year, the City now expects to receive the same amount of Federal money as it did last year. We are now to submit a new contract based upon the amounts we received last year from the City Community Development Department and Councilmen Cummins and Kelley.

4. Filling new staff position – Community/Marketing Manager

Our ability to fill the staff position will be contingent upon the funding we receive for the upcoming fiscal year.

5. Other

The City has developed a restricted-access website for CDC’s to use to find tax-foreclosed properties. The site will eventually include all foreclosed properties. The CDC’s will have first option to obtain these properties. If a CDC obtains a foreclosed property it must pay the closing costs, security costs, and upkeep and insurance costs.