AKRON, Ohio — Akron City Councilman Russel Neal Jr. said he wants the Ohio Ethics Commission and the Ohio Attorney General to review policies and practices of City Council and the city administration to restore the trust of residents and local business.
However, it’s not immediately clear what triggered the move.
Lack of supporting documentation for the resolution, compounded by spotty reception added up to about six minutes of confusion during City Council’s Rules Committee meeting on Monday, leaving some committee members scratching their heads.
As Neal, who was off site, struggled to connect, Rules Committee Chair Mike Freeman, Ward 9, who had read-in the resolution, questioned whether Neal’s issue had to do with donations.
“If somebody wants to see who’s giving to us, it’s a simple trip down to the Board of Elections,” Freeman said. “We have to, we have to file reports and a list of who’s giving to us is clearly stated there. I don’t know if that was the concern.”
Some confusion seemed to spring from the resolution language referencing both a recently disputed residential development and the city’s establishment of a Citizen Review Board for police, which residents made part of Akron’s Charter when they resoundingly approved issue 10 in the last General Election.
The resolution also does not point to City Council’s inability to seat theCitizen Review Board, which has created turmoil, dividing council.
Last week, nominee Imokhai Okolo, an Akron attorney, was not able to garner nine of 13 votes to gain a seat on the review board because of social media comments he made criticizing Akron police after the deadly shooting of Jayland Walker in June.
Another vote will be taken at tonight’s City Council meeting, although it is not clear what will happen if Council still can’t agree on the members.
The issue at hand, according to Neal’s resolution, is “recent and historical” breaches of trust by City Council and city administration, including “Pay to Play politics” and “disrespect of basic citizens’ rights,” causing residents to lose confidence in Akron government.
“Whereas, Council and the administration both supported the passage of the resolution declaring racism a public health crisis, but have displayed practices that appear to be steeped in institutional and structural racism,” the resolution reads.
Neal told the committee the resolution is based on concerns citizens have raised, but without supporting documentation, and with a shaky digital connection, he asked the committee to take time until next Monday.
Councilman Donnie Kammer, Ward 7, said he had “a couple questions and possible concerns” about the resolution but would wait for the supporting documents.
“I’m not sure if we’ve received those but I would like to see those,” Kammer said.
Neal responded saying the supporting materials were emails and a video from people opposed to the trees being cut down at the White Pond development, a residential development in West Akron recently opposed by many residents with environmental concerns.
A vote to approve taking time was split two to two, with At large Councilwoman Linda Omobien, and Ward 8 Councilman Shammas Malik, in favor. Freeman and At large Councilman and Committee Vice Chair Jeff Fusco voting against time.
The resolution will remain on the agenda until next week, said Council Clerk Sara Biviano.
