Cleveland Heights is facing another leadership change in its finance department as Rodney Hairston has departed, marking the third director to leave during the recent mayoral administration. City Council addressed the situation during a recent recap, discussing the ongoing challenges in stabilizing the city's financial leadership.

Hairston’s departure follows a pattern of turnover in the finance director role. Prior to him, two other individuals held the position under the same mayoral administration. Notably, one of those previous directors has since returned in a consulting capacity, specifically to assist with the development of the 2026 budget. This suggests a continued need for expertise in navigating the city's financial planning process.

The City Council recap didn't detail the reasons for Hairston's departure, but the repeated changes in leadership have undoubtedly presented challenges for Cleveland Heights. The reliance on a former director as a consultant for the 2026 budget highlights the importance of securing a permanent and experienced finance director to ensure long-term financial stability and effective budget management for the city. The Council is expected to begin the search for a replacement shortly.