Westlake

On Thursday, Nov. 3, Westlake’s clerk of council, Denise Rosenbaum, was awarded the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk, by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. This designation does not come easily. It requires the accumulation of many points of credit, obtained through attending seminars, institutes and conferences dedicated to the education of municipal clerks. Credit is also given for college courses, experience on the job and serving on association committees.

Denise joined the City in 1997 as assistant clerk and was appointed clerk of council in 2010. With this designation, Denise becomes the 100th Certified Municipal Clerk in the state. While the program can take some clerks two to three years to complete, Denise’s job duties often precluded her from attending events. She was dedicated to the pursuit, picking up credits over the course of seven years as her schedule allowed.

At last, spring has sprung! We hope that you will consider celebrating the beautiful gardens and landscapes of Westlake by entering your property in the annual Westlake in Bloom competition. Whether you enter your home or business, Westlake in Bloom is our chance to say thank you to the individuals who help beautify our city. 

Entry forms are available at Cahoon Nursery, Dean’s Greenhouse, Gale’s Westlake Garden Center, Plant Crafters, Porter Library, Westlake City Hall, Recreation Center, Community Services Department and www.cityofwestlake.org.  

The deadline for entering is Friday, July 1, at 5 p.m. Properties will be judged in July and awards presented at a ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 6:30 p.m., at LaCentre. So, put a reminder on your calendar to pick up an entry form and make sure to get it to City Hall by the deadline date. 

Happy gardening!

In 1986, when a young accountant settled into the mayor’s chair, Westlake was just beginning to stretch its legs. Thirty years and seven re-elections later, Mayor Dennis Clough sits atop a city burgeoning with commercial, industrial and residential growth. His lengthy tenure may not have been part of his original plan but there is no doubt about the pride he takes in guiding the city through remarkable expansion.

Mayor Clough reflected on his time in office during his annual State of the City address to the West Shore Chamber of Commerce on March 10.

The West Shore Chamber of Commerce will host the State of the City address by Mayor Dennis Clough on Tuesday, March 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at LaCentre, 25777 Detroit Road in Westlake. Cost for the luncheon is $20 per person at the door. The public is invited to attend. A reservation is required. Call Sharon at 440-835-8787 or email sharon@westshorechamber.org.

The city of Westlake held its annual military reception prior to the Sept. 18 City Council meeting to recognize the service of Westlake residents serving in the armed forces. The ceremony served as the official retirement of the military banners hanging at the intersection of Dover Center and Hilliard, a tradition that Dave Rencehausen of the city's sign shop began several years ago.

“On behalf of Council, I believe I speak for everyone when I say Westlake has always been proud of the volunteer spirit,” said City Council President Michael Killeen, “and no one shows that volunteer spirit more, or to a greater degree, than our citizens who actually serve us in the armed forces. We are grateful for their service … and whatever we can do to honor them is not enough, but hopefully we show our respect and our admiration.”

Download the entire Voters' Guide as a printer-friendly PDF.

Non-partisan information provided by the League of Women Voters - Cuyahoga Area, Westlake/North Olmsted chapter

Absentee Voting Begins: Oct. 1
Voter Registration Deadline: Oct. 7
Election Day: Nov. 5
LWV Candidates Night: Oct. 1, 6:45 p.m., Westlake Porter Public Library

Questions for Westlake Mayor, Director of Law and President of Council candidates:
1. What do you see as the two most important issues facing the city of Westlake in the coming four years?
2. What is your viewpoint regarding regionalization and collaboration arrangements with adjoining cities?
3. What is your vision of what Westlake will be like in ten years?
4. What is your management style and how will you work with City Council?
5. What city services do you believe could be contracted out in order to reduce expenses?
6. How will declining revenues affect Westlake’s recreational facilities?

Download the entire Voters' Guide as a printer-friendly PDF.

View the video of the League of Women Voters' Oct. 1 Westlake candidates' night.

Non-partisan information provided by the League of Women Voters - Cuyahoga Area, Westlake/North Olmsted chapter

Absentee Voting Begins: Oct. 1
Voter Registration Deadline: Oct. 7
Election Day: Nov. 5
LWV Candidates Night: Oct. 1, 6:45 p.m., Westlake Porter Public Library

Westlake City Council
Term: 4 years
Salary: $14,200

Questions for Westlake City Council candidates:
1. What do you see as the two most important issues facing the city of Westlake in the coming four years?
2. What is your viewpoint regarding regionalization and collaboration arrangements with adjoining cities?
3. What is your vision of what Westlake will be like in ten years?
4. What issues are most important to citizens in your ward?
5. What city services do you believe could be contracted out in order to reduce expenses?
6. How will declining revenues affect Westlake’s recreational facilities?

Download the entire Voters' Guide as a printer-friendly PDF.

View the video of the League of Women Voters' Oct. 1 Westlake candidates' night.

Non-partisan information provided by the League of Women Voters - Cuyahoga Area, Westlake/North Olmsted chapter

Absentee Voting Begins: Oct. 1
Voter Registration Deadline: Oct. 7
Election Day: Nov. 5
LWV Candidates Night: Oct. 1, 6:45 p.m., Westlake Porter Public Library

Westlake Board of Education
Term: 4 years
Salary: $125 per meeting

Questions for Westlake Board of Education candidates:
1. What do you see as the two most important issues facing the Board of Education?
2. What ideas do you have for reorganizing resources to use tax dollars as efficiently as possible?
3. How would you further citizen awareness (transparency) of the Board of Education’s agenda?
4. What experience do you have that will make you an effective leader on the Board of Education?
5. What additional technological initiatives should be introduced to the Westlake schools?
6. What programs that have been implemented in other communities would you like to see happen in Westlake?

The City of Westlake is very proud to launch this year's Westlake in Bloom community beautification program, which showcases the beautiful landscaping and gardens of residences and businesses. Every year we have one or two spectacular gardens that really stand out and we think they cannot be topped, until the next year when a different garden takes our breath away.

Westlake residents and business owners can enter their gardens in one of 15 categories, which will be judged in July and awards presented at a ceremony on August 7 at LaCentre, where a slideshow of the winning gardens is shown. Entry forms can be downloaded from the city’s website at www.cityofwestlake.org and mailed to: Westlake in Bloom, City of Westlake, 27700 Hilliard Boulevard, Westlake, OH 44145, or dropped off at the reception desk at Westlake City Hall.

Westlake sure has changed in the last 27 years.

That was Mayor Dennis Clough’s message to Westshore Chamber of Commerce members during his State of the City address at LaCentre on March 13. Since Clough was elected in 1986, the city has undergone a period of major growth – residential, commercial and municipal.

In preparing his remarks, Clough looked back on the city’s needs in his first year in office. At that time, he felt that Westlake most needed strong financial management – not surprising, given Clough’s accounting background.

The idea of citizens making resolutions for their communities is a good one – democracy thrives on the involvement of those being governed. This is another way of making our voices heard.

As chairman of the Westlake Charter Review Committee for 2009, I could say that our committee of appointed citizens, representing the public - by hearing suggestions for improvements to our charter, considering them and them making recommendations to Council for its consideration to put on the ballot in 2010 – has been preparing resolutions for almost a year. This review committee is established every 10 years to ensure our charter is up to date in an ever-changing society.

Nan Baker, Ward 6 council member who was recently elected state representative, will be resigning her seat on the Westlake City Council at the end of December. Council has 30 days after her resignation to appoint a replacement to fill out the remainder of Baker's term, which runs through December 31, 2009. Anyone interested in being considered for the seat should submit a letter of interest and personal information to Susan J. Prehoda, Clerk of Council by December 1, 2008.