BEACHWOOD, Ohio — Mayor Justin Berns posted a response Monday (Aug. 17) to speculation that he attempted to help his brother, longtime developer Jonathan Berns, to purchase the former DoubleTree by Hilton hotel property at 3663 Park East Drive.
Berns stated he is no way involved in such a deal, and that his brother is not seeking economic development assistance from the city. Berns said that he immediately contacted Law Director Todd Hunt when he learned in July of his brother’s involvement in the purchase and removed himself and the city from any involement in the sale of the property.
The blowup over the matter came to light when Beachwood Schools Superintendent Robert Hardis sent an email to the city on July 29 in which, Hunt stated in an Aug. 6 response to the Superintendent, Hardis had “in essence, accuse(d) Mayor Berns of illegal activity.”…