Commissioners Appoint Cuyahoga Transition Team

Thursday, November 19, 2009
Topics: Politics
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Cuyahoga County’s commissioners have appointed a three member transition team to coordinate the upcoming change in county governance approved by voters this month. Ideastream’s Bill Rice reports.

The new charter gives the 3 commissioners until March to create a 3-person transition advisory group made up of senior level county officials.  Four months ahead of schedule the appointments are in, with County Administrator Jim McCafferty, Human Resources Director Joseph Nanni and Justice Affairs Director Gary Holland named to the team.  McCafferty, whose job will be eliminated under the new charter, says the task of making the transition from 3 commissioners to a county executive and 11 member council will be – in his words – mammoth. 

McCafferty:  You have to look at all the county agencies, some of which are under the board of County Commissioners; you have to look at elected officials, who now will be agencies under the new elected official.  What are those relationships.  It’s called for the merger of some departments together.  How does that happen?  What will be the ongoing relationships with boards and commissions?

You get the picture. 

McCafferty says the group will consult with Summit County, and Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County, both of which have made similar transitions.  And, he says, there will be plenty of consultation with community, business and non-profit groups as the new government takes shape.