Mayor Wants Mayfield Heights Council To Reconsider Anti-Poaching Agreement

Mayor Gregory Costabile continues to push City Council members to sign the county's anti-poaching protocol.

On Feb. 13, council voted 5-2 against signing the agreement, designed to keep Cuyahoga County communities from competing against each other to attract businesses. By signing on, cities pledge not to approach companies to move from elsewhere in the county.

At Monday's council meeting, Costabile said he talked recently to county officials Nathan Kelly, deputy chief of staff economic development, and Ed Jerse, director of regional development. He wanted to see if the $100 million county fund for economic development could be used to offset costs of the city's strategic plan and any public/private initiatives that come from it.

"There could be an issue with points as a result of the five members rejecting the protocol," he said, referring to a weighted system that includes credit for signing the agreement. "Once again, I would encourage those five council members to rethink their position."

The five council members – Nino Monaco, Donna Finney, Diane Snider, Paul Sciria and Gayle Teresi – gave various reasons for their votes. Finney said she saw no benefit to the city, while Monaco questioned why other cities had not signed on, citing that only 20 of the county's 59 communities joined.