Tanisha Briley Resigns As Cleveland Heights City Manager

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Cleveland Heights City Manager Tanisha Briley is resigning her position. She has accepted a job in a city in Maryland.

Briley announced her resignation during Monday evening's city council meeting. Her resignation goes into effect Sept. 1. She will then take over as city manager of Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Briley has been city manager in Cleveland Heights since 2013. The city is moving to a strong mayor form of government in 2022.

During Briley's tenure, she navigated the lingering effects of the Great Recession and facilitated the Top of the Hill project. She helped modernize internal process, initiated energy-efficient projects and stabilized the municipal budget.

Briley said she wasn't actively seeking a job outside of Cleveland Heights, but with the transition to a mayor-led government, she decided to entertain the opportunity in Maryland.

"It has been my honor and privilege to serve this great community for the last seven years as city manager," Briley said. "Cleveland is my home and I had hoped to continue on here for years to come. I leave with mixed emotions, but also with great optimism for the future of Cleveland Heights."

"Tanisha has been a strong leader that has seen the city through a number of tough times including the current COVID-19 pandemic. She brought professionalism, experience and creativity to the City and committed herself to the betterment of Cleveland Heights residents and businesses. We wish her all the best in her new position and we thank her for her service," Cleveland Heights Mayor Jason Stein said.

Susanna Niermann O'Neil, vice city manager will be acting city manager when Briley departs.