Eastlake’s simmering city hall drama boiled over Friday when Councilwoman Danyeill Kostelnik abruptly resigned, effective immediately, saying she was stepping down to keep the community from splintering any further.
Kostelnik said she still stands by the misconduct allegations she leveled at fellow councilwoman Chris Krajnyak and claimed she was walking away to stop what she called “false accusations, threats, harassment, intimidation and reckless social media posts” that had begun to drown out actual council business. Her exit closes a tense stretch of face to face clashes in meetings and a running war of words online.
According to Cleveland.com, Kostelnik accused Krajnyak of “gross misconduct, misfeasance, abuse of office and conduct unbecoming an elected official.” Krajnyak has denied the accusations. The council has been weighing a resolution to bring in outside attorney Joseph Diemert to investigate the claims and possibly file a formal complaint that could lead to Krajnyak’s expulsion. The proposal fell short of the votes needed to pass as an emergency measure earlier this month, but it is expected to come back for another round.
How The Council Will Fill The Seat
Kostelnik submitted her resignation to council, and officials signaled they would post the vacancy and start accepting resumes, Cleveland.com reported.
Under Eastlake’s rules, a council vacancy has to be filled by a majority vote within 30 days. If council fails to act in that window, the mayor is authorized to appoint someone to serve out the rest of the term, according to the Eastlake Code of Ordinances. The city posts meeting schedules, agendas and recordings so residents can keep tabs on who steps forward and how the vote plays out. Details on meeting times and council contact information are available on the City of Eastlake council page.
Political Fallout
City officials say they plan to move ahead with posting the opening and gathering resumes, and council is expected to formally consider Kostelnik’s resignation at its next regular meeting, according to Cleveland.com. The dispute has left the seven member body sharply divided and has raised the stakes for any renewed vote on hiring outside counsel or pursuing other disciplinary options.
In the middle of it all is Mayor Kevin Kostelnik. The outgoing councilwoman defended her husband in comments to Cleveland.com, rejecting criticism of him as false and beyond what falls under his responsibilities as mayor.
What To Watch Next
For residents trying to follow the fallout in real time, the city’s public records are the place to camp out. The City of Eastlake posts upcoming agendas, meeting notices and a YouTube channel with recorded sessions.
Watch for council to officially act on Kostelnik’s resignation and for the recurring proposal to hire outside legal counsel to resurface. If that attorney is ultimately brought in and files a complaint, it could trigger a full scale investigation or an expulsion process for Krajnyak. Anyone eyeing the now vacant seat will want to keep an eye on official city notices for when applications open and how to throw their hat in the ring.
