Council President Responds to High School Permit Fee Debate

Beachwood City Council President Mark Mintz addressed recent complaints about the city’s refusal to waive $300,000 in permit fees for school renovations.

At Monday’s council meeting, Mintz read a written statement. “I am disappointed by some recent comments that have been critical of the City for charging the schools these fees.”

Mintz added that the city supports the schools in several ways: the city pays the schools to use their facilities for summer camps and recreation, spends $157,000 a year on crossing guards for the schools, and recently renovated and continues to maintain ball fields on school property.

He added that the city does not profit from the fees it charges to the school for building inspections.

“We have never waived such fees for anyone. And, if we decided to absorb such costs and didn’t charge the schools anything, it would establish a difficult precedent for other Beachwood public, nonprofit and religious institutions.”

He said he is looking into holding quarterly meetings with the schools.

Read the full text of the statement at right.