AKRON, Ohio — Feb. 27 was the deadline for Akron City Council to seat the members for the citizen-led Police Review Board created by the passage of Issue 10 in November.
Now, more than a week after that deadline, council has not come to an agreement.
The council voted six to five with one abstention, and the legislation needed nine votes to pass.
The major point of contention lies with one of the nominees for the board, Imokhai Okolo, a 27-year-old attorney who is Black.
Some members of council say they need someone like him on this board, but others do not want him on it due to a social media post in which they say he spoke negatively of police officers.
Dozens of citizens including several religious leaders spoke during public comment in support Okolo.
Spectrum News reached out to the City of Akron regarding the repercussions of missing the deadline to the board.
They said that there is nothing specifically listed in the charter that spells out penalties for missing a deadline.
The city said the council is able to call a special meeting this week.
