History of Government Officials

Government Officials of Dover - Westlake, Ohio 1811 - 2011

As Westlake’s bicentennial approached, our Clerk of Council, Denise L. Rosenbaum, thought a fitting contribution on behalf of City Council would be a compilation of those who served on Council. The project later expanded to include clerks, trustees and mayors. The final product, this list of Government Officials of Dover ~ Westlake, Ohio, 1811-2011, (updated by an addendum in July 2020 and a continuation of the list to date), is the culmination of her many hours of detailed research over the course of more than 18 months beginning in February of 2010. It involved phone calls, emails, Internet searches, trips to various libraries, historical societies and archives both local and county, and paging through records including Dover township trustee books, Dover ~ Westlake Village and City Council minutes and ordinances, and the Westlake City Charter. Ms. Rosenbaum also consulted county election result abstracts and ballot page scrapbooks, official bonds and oaths, newspaper archives, plat maps, history books, census records, and rosters of township and municipal officers. Some unlikely sources included accounting and road dedication ledgers, cemetery and property deeds, and chattel mortgages. As she found information and recognized patterns, the layout of the list underwent many revisions so that it flowed logically, accurately and aesthetically and showed the changes in the structure of Dover ~ Westlake’s government through the years.

While great care was taken to record accurate information, some discrepancies, spelling variations and unintentional omissions are inevitable due to the fact that, unfortunately, some records no longer exist or were not located during this project. Additionally, when original records differed from previously published information, the originals took precedence, and adjustments are reflected herein. It also must be noted that there were many other individuals who served in capacities not listed who are no less worthy of remembrance for their services throughout the last 200 years.

Ms. Rosenbaum is truly grateful for the assistance of co-workers, colleagues, local historians and the staff at the various facilities who helped her gather and confirm the information. Special thanks to the employees of the Westlake service department sign shop, whose expertise designed the cover of this booklet and brought to reality the beautiful and impressive granite plaque displaying this identical list and mounted in the rotunda of Westlake City Hall for all to enjoy.

Researching this project was intriguing, captivating and extremely gratifying for Ms. Rosenbaum. She considered it a privilege to have had the opportunity to compile this information both to commemorate current government officials and their predecessors and to document an essential heritage of the history of Dover ~ Westlake, Ohio.

Michael F. Killeen

Westlake City Council President

November 3, 2011

All are encouraged to visit Westlake City Hall during normal business hours to view the plaque. A copy of the booklet is available upon request, while supplies last. Ms. Rosenbaum also created a memory book, which is mounted next to the plaque, detailing the making of the project and its associated events.

Government Officials of Dover - Westlake, Ohio 1811 - Present

As an ongoing tribute to the government officials of Dover ~ Westlake, Ohio, a continuation of the bicentennial booklet – Government Officials of Dover ~ Westlake, Ohio 1811 – 2021 – includes the next decade, those serving through 2021. (Additional years to date insert)

Their dedication and valued contributions to the city are equally as appreciated as those of whom came before them. A new plaque mounted in the rotunda of Westlake City Hall near the original bicentennial commemorative plaque features these and future officials to be added.

Dover Township Trustees Records Transcriptions

In June 2020, Clerk of Council Denise L. Rosenbaum completed transcribing four volumes of handwritten Dover Township Trustees Records from 1831-1880, which are part of the collection at the Western Reserve Historical Society. This greatly facilitates researching these records, especially for those unable to read cursive, since the transcriptions are much easier to read, allow for quick text or name searches, and have bookmarks at meeting dates and election results where they are scattered throughout. Copies of the original records are available in the Council office at Westlake City Hall and through the city document portal on this website.

Dover Township Trustees Records Volume 1, 1831-1869

Dover Township Trustees Records Volume 2, 1838-1880

Dover Township Trustees Records Volume 3, 1833-1867

Dover Township Trustees Records Volume 4, 1863-1878

Dover Township Officials 1831-1880

From the four volumes of Dover Township Trustees Records of the 1800s, Clerk of Council Denise L. Rosenbaum, along with corroboration by William R. Krause, compiled a list of the many and varied Dover Township Officials 1831-1880 mentioned therein which supplements and clarifies some discrepancies in the list of Government Officials of Dover ~ Westlake, Ohio 1811-2011 that was published for Westlake’s bicentennial. An addendum to the latter based on these clarifications updates that list.

Dover Township ~ City of Westlake Officials 1909-2026

This compilation, Dover Township ~ City of Westlake Officials 1909-2026, by Clerk of Council Denise L. Rosenbaum was an effort to document the establishment and history of the various departments – along with their directors, chiefs and other members – as Dover Township evolved into Dover Village, Westlake Village and finally into the present City of Westlake, in order to recognize the valuable contributions of those who served. It focuses primarily on the twentieth-century development, when many of the departments were initially established, to 2026. The main research sources were the Dover Village/Westlake City Council minutes and legislation from 1910 to 2026, with additional research from various other sources.

While it is a fairly comprehensive compilation, which took nearly five years of tedious research as time permitted, and great effort was made to verify dates and ensure accuracy, there are a few gaps where the records are silent, unclear or nonexistent. Additionally, it would be an even greater monumental undertaking to name everyone who has served the township/village/city in whatever capacity, including some recently created departments, whose contributions are just as valuable.

Westlake Council Office Awarded the 2019 OHRAB Achievement Award

The Westlake City Council Office has been honored to be selected as a recipient of the 2019 Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board Achievement Award, which recognizes significant accomplishments in preserving and improving access to historical records. Over the last ten years, Clerk of Council Denise L. Rosenbaum has digitized and indexed more than 20,000 documents including Council minutes and legislation dating back to 1910, Dover township trustees minutes from the 1800s, newspaper articles and more, making them readily accessible through the City’s database and website. Lists of those who served in official capacities in Dover/Westlake the last two centuries have been compiled by her as well and are invaluable for genealogical research and history buffs alike.

City Council Scrapbook

In an effort to preserve history and memorialize the people who have participated in Westlake’s governance, Clerk of Council Denise Rosenbaum is creating a scrapbook of pictures of those who served on Council, as a trustee or as a clerk from its beginning as Dover township in 1811 to the present. If anyone has photos to contribute, please submit them either in digital form by email or as reprints to:

Council Office
27700 Hilliard Boulevard
Westlake, OH 44145

Your assistance will be greatly appreciated both now and for generations to come!