FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- Exciting and informative is how Mayor-elect Patrick Cooney described the last month of preparation before being sworn into office at 1 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 5) at the Gemini Center.

“Mayor (Eileen Ann) Patton has been very gracious to allow me to sit in on a lot of meetings,” Cooney said. “Being a municipal attorney, you kind of focus more on legal issues, but as a mayor, you touch all bases.

“Most people prior to being a mayor have a certain focus. When you become a mayor, all of that becomes your focus, but that’s what makes it exciting, makes it challenging. That’s why it’s important to have good people with you.”

Speaking of having good people with him, Cooney will be selecting a staff, including a replacement for Director of Public Service and Development Shawn Leininger, who left the city to become the next Cuyahoga County Planning Commission executive director.

As far as working with City Council, Cooney said he has already laid the groundwork.

“I sat down with City Council President Michael Kilbane and other council members,” Cooney said. “Also, we’re going to have four new council members, so there will be a lot of getting up to speed.”

Getting up to speed was also the idea behind Cooney taking part in a Cuyahoga County Mayors and City Managers Association new city leaders forum, which took place Dec. 5 at the Squire Patton Boggs office in downtown Cleveland.

The onboarding process for new mayors features speakers and experts brought in to talk about various topics -- ethics law, collective bargaining, municipal finance, public meetings, open records and economic development.

The highlight included appearances by three high-profile guest speakers -- Gov. Mike DeWine, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.

“It was very informative,” Cooney said. “I met a number of people and mayors who said the Cuyahoga County Mayors and City Managers Association is a very good resource.

“I know Mayor Patton was involved, and it’s something I intend to be involved with going forward. It’s a good networking place to talk to mayors about issues that they may have dealt with before.”

As far as meeting DeWine, Cooney said the state leader respects local government and home rule.

“With the local government fund having been taken away, he’s looking for ways to financially help local governments,” Cooney said. “All three -- DeWine, Budish and Jackson -- recognized that local communities are where things really get done on a bipartisan basis and that they need to be responsive because mayors see things on a day-to-day basis.”

Regarding issues facing Fairview Park, the new budget looms, with plenty of meetings scheduled in the first quarter.

“One of things I campaigned on was economic development,” Cooney said. “I’ll reach out to people in the community about residential concerns, as well as meet with the county and state about what they can do to help us with infrastructure needs.

“Those are the type of things I’m going to get into right away and start tackling.”

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