SOUTH EUCLID — Mayor Georgine Welo, along with Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem, will lose their Cuyahoga County Land Bank board seats on May 1.
Board members voted 5-2 on Oct. 28 to have the two mayors surrender their seats. Welo and Kleem cast the two votes against changing the bylaws, which led to their ouster.
County Executive Ed FitzGerald had contested a March board vote in which Welo and Kleem were re-appointed. FitzGerald believes that he should appoint board members.
The state of Ohio formed the land bank in 2009. The land bank’s purpose is to take ownership of blighted homes and demolish them or renovate them for resale.
Welo, who was unavailable for comment, served as the land bank’s chairperson.
Taking over for Welo will be Cleveland Councilman Tony Brancatelli. Cuyahoga County Councilman Dan Brady will serve as vice chairman.