City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. We're going to call the meeting for Akran City Council to order. At this time, our clerk will read the role. Balden, I. Boy, I. Connor, hi. Davis, I. Garrett, present. Anna, hi. K. Lombardo I Mkhitri I Amobian I Somerville I Wilson I All members are present except for Councilman Kr.

For those who voluntarily wish to do so, would you please stand at this time as we're led in prayer by Gay Vogue from Compass Akran North Church. He currently is the young adult leader. Immediately following our prayer, we do have special guests here with us. uh troop 7310 um who meets at St. Matthews in ward 6 and they're going to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. Nice.

Thank you. Bow your heads. Close your eyes. God, we thank you, Lord. We thank you for being citizens of a city that your blessing is on. Lord, we thank you for the the changes that we're seeing, God, for the unity, for the inclusion, and for the love. Lord, we pray God that today and the days following, Lord, would you prompt ideas and postures in our heart to continue to move forward in providing for your people, Lord, we love you. We're thankful for what you're doing. We ask for your guidance and for your wisdom. And we pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Gabe, did you have something you wanted to share with us real quick?

Yeah, for sure. Um, well, nice to meet all of you. My name is Gabe Bogue. I'm a young adults minister in Akran. Uh, I wanted to let you know that this Friday, uh, April 17th, um, we are filling up the jar, the James A. Roads Arena over at the University of Akran with over 4,000 people, uh, for a all-inclusive, uh, worship night with every denomination, um, and and every group. And so, uh, this morning when I looked over, we were at 4,000, which is the capacity, but we plan to add more, and I would love to see you all there. It's going to be an amazing night with over 80 other churches involved, and I'm very excited about it. Gabe, thank you.

Yeah, thank you. Troop 7310, if you'll come forward. Do we just

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And you guys don't move away so quickly. I want you to introduce yourselves. No, you got you thought you were going to get off that easy. Okay. And just step up to the mic. Yeah. Um, hi, I'm Lily Roland. Thank you, Lily. I'm Meredith Stark. Meredith. I'm Elizabeth Limble. Thank you. Thank you so much for coming down.

All right, council. The minutes from our previously held meeting have been provided. Are there any additions or corrections? Is there a second? Second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any oppose? The eyes have it. The motion to approve the minutes passes 11 to zero. We'll now move to our public comment period. All those who signed up to participate, if you'll please stand at this time so that you may be sworn in by our clerk. Could you please raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you give will be the truth? If so, please say I do. I do. Thank you.

Thank you. Just going to ask when you hear your name, if you'll please approach the podium. And we're going to begin with Mr. Tim Hi-Tech. Good evening and thank you, councel. Uh my name is Tim Haidik. I'm a representative of the National Association of Letter Carriers representing city mail carriers, city of A and surrounding county or the surrounding cities. I'm going to speak tonight about hunger. Uh hunger in America. It's it's a it's a tragedy and and it's and it's a serious problem. 48 million people across the country, including 14 million children, 6 million seniors are food insecure, which means they don't know where their next meal will be coming from. There's a lot of factors involved with that. You know, there's there's employment issues, there's health issues, the high cost of living. Um, all that coupled with the fact that programs, national programs have been cut and SNAP benefits and it and it and it's and it's a it's a detriment to this to our society, to our community. And my union again is conducting a food drive. Um since 1993 we've had this food drive. Um a total of two billion pounds has been collected nationwide. It's it's it's very important that that I'm trying to get this word out. It's very easy to do. On Saturday, May 9th, all you need to do is place non-p perishable food items next to your mailbox. Your mail carrier will pick them up, deliver them, deliver them to the Akran Canton Regional Food Bank. It's very easy. It's probably the

nicest, easiest way to donate to the food bank. Just simply put it by your mailbox. Um, last year we collected about 12,000 lbs of food. It's not near enough. This year, we've done some changes. We're putting out some bags. We're doing some talking to churches. Um hopefully some press to get out there and get the word out. But I'm asking you guys to do this in your wards again. Um I want to thank uh Councilman Lombardo, Councilman Hannah. Um they got to me this year or last year as well or last year for Mr. Hannah. um to speak in your ward about getting this food out. Um it, you know, it's and the reason it's done in May is the school is school is out. A lot of school programs that supply food is gone so we can replenish the food bank that gets to the food to to the food pantries in May for the summer months. You know, I'm just a mailman. That's all I am. But I I can get I know that a student in school without with that's wondering where they're eating is not focused and that matters to our whole community not just that family. I mean I can only imagine they should one in six children go hungry one in six. Take your family take a a classroom of 30 children five of them are going hungry today. That's that's unbelievable and it's unfathomable in Akran. So, please help. Saturday, May 9th, next to your mailbox. Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

Thank you so much for sharing.

Oh, I have some handouts. It's okay. I'll just leave them. Darnell Hilton. Good evening everyone. The city of Akran could reduce demolition costs if only you would implement demolition prevention such as targeted proactive code enforcement measures or zerointerest repair loans for homeowners. The city could generate more income by being more aggressive with fines on non-compliant owners. Also, the revenue that you gain could be used to fund a mowing program for some elderly or disabled citizens where you pay one to two outside contractors to manage it. I guarantee anyone who gets that done, you will be favorable with the people. Here's a problem that residents need you all to understand. However, I've spoken with several nuisance code inspectors that have stated to me varying reasons why at times some codes were not enforced, which pointed me to the legislation. Also, very recently now, there's a lack of transparency that is preventing residents from going online for 311 to verify that their anonymous complaints are submitted in the system with a status. I urge you all to reverse that before more of the public learns of it. How dare you ask citizens to use a 311 system but deny them access to their input or the ability to follow it? There's too many unreported, willfully negligent property owners and landlords who are almost getting away at times with these conditions continuing, especially throughout WS 2, 3, 4, 7, and

9. If we care about the city's future housing stock and population, something must change. I talked to residents from all over Akran and I will continue fighting for them that are suffering daily blight around them, watching their neighborhoods decline while they're paying high property taxes to the city or high price tags for mortgages and high rent and so forth. Therefore, silence is not an option because that's complicity. Our administration and housing leaders should also be inspired by Mayor George Brown of Wils Baret, Pennsylvania, who's taking a tougher stance against unmaintained properties and residents that are ruining the quality of life in their city. Wils Baret is one of many cities that are updating nuisance code legislation. While I believe you do care about housing, you must take charge to prioritize the quality and conditions of it. Things are getting worse. My drafted ordinance changes that I've presented to you are small but necessary and it will better aid our code inspectors to site issues affecting our communities in a more straightforward manner. I urge you to enact or further amend my proposed legislation because strengthening the code can only help us not hurt us and it will make a difference in this city. Lastly, I've spoke to some of you on council that seem to support this measure. Councilwoman Boyd, I appreciate your attention to this matter and Councilman Bowden, I hope to hear back from you soon. Again, my name is Miss Hilton. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Hilton, for sharing. Larry Cely.

Good evening, Madame President, Council. I appreciate the time to be able to speak tonight. Um, I actually had something wrote out. I wanted to speak on a couple things, but I kind of changed that tonight after speaking with my councilwoman, Marggo Somerville. um who's been absolutely amazing lately. Thank you. I appreciate you. Um like I said, I was going to speak on some other things, but I want to speak on blighted properties and homelessness. And the reason I want to speak on this subject is because it has directly affected me as a resident of W 3. Um I have lived where I'm at on Long View Avenue in Akran for seven years now. I'm a lifelong resident of the city of Akran and plan on running for city council for W 3 in 2027. Um I've had a lot of issues in my ward with blighted properties lately who I've been working very closely with the city of Akran, the inspector's department, the nuisance department, and uh Councilwoman Marggo Somerville. um several properties, one of which I finally was able to accomplish getting demolished this year in a lastm minute reprieve of funding, thank God. Um and I'm still working on others. We have a couple properties just on my street alone that have become nuisance properties. Um one of which has no utilities whatsoever, no electric meter even on the home. and how somebody is being able to live there in the conditions that are present is just beyond my belief. The other home is rented by somebody um and have homeless people living in a tent in their backyard. Um now normally I don't have an issue with homelessness because I know it happens. People fall into bad situations. So I'm not downing the homeless at all. But my concern is is when they're living in a tent in somebody's backyard and stealing from

other properties and coming onto our our properties that you know, like me, I take care of my lawn. I take care of my flower beds and such. I I like my community to look nice and I take pride. My son goes out, cleans up trash in our ward um to help with that as well. And I don't like it when I see what I'm seeing. When I got to watch homeless people going in and out stealing stuff, having fires that the fire department's being continuously called on a regular basis because they're out of control. They're burning stuff they shouldn't be burned. So my question is is to city council and mainly to the mayor of the city of Akran. What's going to be done about the homelessness problem here in Akran? What's going to be done about the blighted properties? And I know ultimately it all comes down to money and funding. I get that. But somewhere we've got to find the money to take care of these blighted properties that are absolutely disgusting. Um, and do something with the homeless. We need more shelters. We don't have enough. So, I'm asking council and the city of Akran mayor to do whatever they can to help with the homeless problem and the blighted properties. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Celely. Nathaniel Green.

Uh, good evening. Um, last time I was here, I brought up the issue of public comment when it concerns the cameras being on us when we speak. I'm a strong advocate that um, if you're going to talk up here and, you know, petition government, you know, people should not just hear you, they should see you cuz they do it for you guys. Now, I mentioned to Margo, she might want to address the audience and I can only assume it slipped her mind cuz she didn't. But anyway, I contacted city council afterward and one of you, either Sarah or Margo, replied and since I'm not a snitch, I'm not going to, you know, snitch you out. But I got it right here. All right, I'mma read it real quick. Good afternoon. There were individuals that expressed they were uncomfortable with being on camera in order to participate, as well as other individuals that didn't like that they couldn't see council members during the public comment period. The decision was made by leadership and we know who leadership is. That's Mcketric Marggo and formerly Fusco to have a camera remain on the full view of chambers during a public comment period of individual speakers. Thank you. Now, anybody down here, when was the last time you could think of anybody who had a problem with the camera on them? Okay. Now, we all remember Dr. Richard Montgomery filed a lawsuit against the city of Backer and January 28 of this year, the judge, John Adams, threw the case out. One week later, you know, we're no longer on camera. All right. Is that a coincidence? Is somebody spiking the football? Is somebody trying to rub salt in his wounds? Because if they are, it's a little silly juvenile attempt. Okay. All right. Okay. When we're talking up here, we got to remember this is our council, not your council. All right? And um could you pass that? Um

you know, we come down here, we talk about serious issues. Some of us, you know, some of us like Yanos can be very inflammatory. All right? When he talks, he can, you know, I don't know the guy personally, but I notice he can't even get in the city council no more. Why is that all of a sudden? Now, I'm not specifically accusing anybody of anything, but you know, I don't believe, you know, the old saying, once happen stance, twice coincidence, the third time plant. All right? Now, so I'm asking you guys to reconsider and put the camera back on us. There's no, you know, there's nothing wrong with that. If you don't, you control the camera. If somebody doesn't want to be on camera,

you can pivot the camera off them. Ask them if they don't want the camera on them. if somebody they can um email it and have you guys read it into the public record or they can go online. So once again, I'm asking you guys to take a serious look at it. All right. Um and I got to I want you to look at this. So um can you pass it around when I'm done? But uh thank you for your time. Thank you so much, Mr. Green. That concludes our public comment period. We want to thank all those who took the time to participate. Council, before you is the consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Is there a second? All in favor signify by saying I.

I. Any oppose? The eyes have it. The consent agenda passes 11 to zero. We'll now move to old business. Starting with rules. Councilman McKitrich. Uh we have a substitute. Thank you. Yes, there's a substitute offered as an amendment. You'll see this is item number one in new legislation. It's offered by council member Wilson. It's a resolution amending resolution number 373 2023 to amend and or supplement the rules of procedure for Akran City Council by adopting rules 7.11, 7.12, and 7.13 and declaring an emergency. Council Mckitri,

uh the committee's report is favorable. We're asking for a suspension of the rules. Are there any objections to suspension of the rules? Seeing and hearing none, the rules have been suspended. Uh there was quite a bit of discussion about this this afternoon. Uh it's the uh council member Wilson wanted to brought forth for a vote. Uh many thought that it should go on for uh a little bit more discussion and to see what the process looks like before uh we go forward with this. So uh it's it's up for a vote. Uh and I will not be supporting. Thank you. Council member Wilson, did you want to have some comments as the sponsor?

Yes, thank you so much. Um, so, uh, we had some pretty robust conversations over the last couple weeks. Um, again, this legislation has three main parts. One is about making sure that when someone steps out or leaves council, um, there is a screening committee that's appointed, uh, that the screening committee conducts interviews with applicants, and number three, that there's some sort of public engagement. um about the process and collecting feedback from the public about what they'd like to see with the vacancy appointment. Um I think we've had a lot of robust conversation. Um and I asked and for and pushed for a vote because I did come back with the substitution after a lot of discussion with many of you. Um, and I understand that some people might still a little bit be on the fence, but the language is clear. It's flexible, and we've had a lot of discussions. It's a lot of what we've already been doing. The first two points we've been doing for 35 plus to 40 years. The second, we've been doing over the last cycle and something that we're doing in the current cycle right now. And I think I just end with saying um this is what a gold standard could look like. We can amend it and improve it at another time. We change rules every other year or so. Um, this is an opportunity for us to critique and improve on what we've been doing and build on some of the public engagement factors in a process that in my opinion and by law bypasses an election where constituents can vote for their representatives. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Uh, Council Person Wilson, are there any other comments at this time? Councilwoman Davis.

Yes. Thank you, Madam President. I wanted to comment this afternoon. My shoulder button is lost and it I'm sorry it is going to take care of that for me. I do rise in support of this legislation. Um it's something that we're already doing. So it's simply just enshrining it into the rules and that's how I look at it. So I will be supporting this. I do respect my colleagues and their position of course and if we need to take more time you know I would be open that too but I am going to be supporting it. Thank you Councilwoman Davis Councilman Garrett.

Thank you Madame President. Uh I too will be supporting this piece of legislation. It is important that we as a council understand that a person is judged by the content of their character not the color of their skin. the content of a person's character. We we're currently having town hall meetings to discuss these topics. Right now, the topic of those conversations is is around of course the atlarge position and in terms of creating these rules. Part of it is we have to be able to listen to the constituents and our character has to stand up. So many constituents have reached out and said, "Hey, Councilman, please don't allow any backdoor deals. Please don't allow any sneaky cute things to go on behind the scenes. We want to be heard." We had our town hall. We've all expressed there were two main things that were brought up during that meeting. One is they didn't want anybody that's currently on council to slide. They didn't want that at all. And for us, we have to have real character and stand up and listen to what some of the constituents say. And the other thing is they wanted somebody with with experience. And so we have to be about the business of listening to our constituents. So many times whether it's Mr. Green or other folks are getting sort of discouraged with council on how we do things, enshrining these rules into law, but not only doing that, but listening to what the folks have to say. It'll be very disappointing for us to have go through this entire show of listening to the folks, hearing their concerns, and us doing something totally opposite of what the community asked for. Thank you so much for your time, and I support this piece of legislation.

Thank you so much, Councilman Garrett. Um, Council Mobian, did I see your hand? Yes.

Yes, Madame Rosen. Thank you very much. Um, I think this is a no-brainer for me because the first two planks are just simply what we have been doing every time we have a vacancy. Essentially, you are appointing a committee. Secondly, the committee is charged with interviewing the candidates. And it's the third plank that seems to be for me where the concern is. And I don't have an issue with it because simply we're saying that we will give the steering committee the opportunity to figure out how do you report back to the public and let them know what you have done done either the process or the uh recommendation? How did you go about selecting the person? However they choose to do it, but some way of giving feedback to the public. And that seems to be all they're asking for. all the councilman is asking for in this legislation. So, I have no problem with it at all. Thank you very much.

Thank you so much, Councilwoman. Any other comments? Um, I do want to make a comment and um did have some conversations with Council Person Wilson and want to make it very clear, you know, when we started this engagement process of going out into the community and hearing from constituents. I started that as council president, right? Because to me, we cannot do this process without hearing and involving residents in the process. That's very important, right? And so that's why we've done it. We did it in W one. We did it in W 8. We're now doing it at large. Okay. One of the things that I mentioned to council person Wilson is that we have found ourselves in this position for the third time now. Right. And this body has had no discussion, no evaluation of the process, right? And it seems as if this is going to be a common occurrence particularly, right? And so the the ask of you was for time, right? We're in the middle of the process now, right? We held a really great engagement session on Tuesday at Firestone. People came out, we heard from them. Some of the things that we heard about is that concerns about the process, right? You know, we're hearing listen to constituents, hear what residents have to say. Well, we have to give an opportunity and time to do that and to make changes and to solidify something in the middle of the process. It does not give us that opportunity. We're putting the cart before the horse. So, however this vote comes down, leadership is committed to doing what we need to do in terms of evaluating the process, right? Seeing what works, what doesn't work, how we can improve upon it, how we can make it stronger. To your point, we do want a gold seal on whatever it is that we do. And I think we're moving in that direction. But to ask for a vote in the middle in the middle of an appointment process, I think is just again putting the cart before the horse. And that's the only reason why I cannot submit uh support

this tonight. Is there any other comments at this time? Councilwoman Boyce.

Thank you, Madam President. Um I I I have to say first that I appreciate your approach to these processes. They're not easy and you chose to involve the public. As a community developer, I appreciate that. We do need to hear from the public. Um, I I somewhat share your concerns about timing, but for different reasons. Uh, I think my colleagues have heard me time and time again express that I don't like to support resolutions that have the potential to be perceived as political. I do not in any way believe that is the case in this situation. However, to your point, this is kind of in the middle of a process that's already begun. I would be more comfortable with time on this. I am supportive of it. I think we need to I don't want to say codify, but I think we need to institutionalize the things that we have informally already done. Um, I would hate to see, you know, the public not have these these forums at some point. And, you know, there could be a day when you are not in that chair where that could happen and someone could make that decision. I do not want that to happen. I would just prefer that we took a little bit of time uh approved this as a collective body. I understand if we don't want to do that tonight. I appreciate that. Um I appreciate the comments about we can change rules. We are flexible in that way. We are a governing body that can change our own rules. Um I I just you know I feel like I'm in an awkward position for the political reason. That's the only reason I I wanted to suggest taking time if we could. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Councilwoman. Councilman Garrett.

Thank you, Madam President. It it's just a little concerning for me, Madame President, that during this time when it's a simple vote, we have individuals um going back and forth around this particular issue and they they bring up the whole idea of political. I mean, take take a stance. At the end of the day, this is just suggesting that we put this in writing. To hold back on this from a colleague of mine who suggests that she doesn't want to, she's not sure. It's it's sort of frustrating to watch. Um, and so I would just hope that we would have everybody to stand and take a vote on this particular issue, move it forward, and not really play politics. Whether it's I'm interested in pro Tim or whatever the case may be, I am focused on doing the people's work, and that's where we should be. So I would hope that everybody in the room this evening not play politics, not look to be pro Tim, but really look to make a stand and take a real vote. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilman Garrett. Are there any other comments at this time? Councilman Balden,

I thank you, Madam President. I I I understand the legislation. I look what we've done in the past. Uh and I appreciate uh the forums that we've done uh and that that you've you've started and I think your heart's there. Uh and that's good. I think that's something that we we we will continue. Uh but I agree with you. In the middle of the process, it's a little difficult to say let's change the rules in the middle. Um let's get through this and look at changing it. Make sure we're doing it the right way. If there's anything we need to add to these forums, we'll have three of them under our belt, which we have now. We can look and see if they're they're right. uh you know the council has uh appointed uh for years uh and they have appointed uh through committees with interviews of of candidates. Uh I know that because I've been through a couple of them myself and I've been on committees before in my previous term on council. Uh we always interviewed people that applied. Uh so that that's that's going to continue. But I think the public forum we need to have a uh just let's get through this. uh and and seems like you're committed to it uh to put this bring this back and I would love to take time until this process is over and go on to the next one and get this done.

Thank you so much, Councilman. Um if there are no other comments at this time, um we're going to ask for a uh a roll call at this time. Olden, no. Boy, I Connor, no. Davis, hi. Garrett. Hi. Hannah. Nay. Lombardo. Nay. Mkhitrich. Nay. Amobian. I. Somerville. No. Wilson. I. The vote was 5 to six. Five eyes, six nazs. So, the motion fails.

Thank you. We're going to continue to move on with planning and economic development. Um let's see. And that is me. That is me today. I am president and um over planning. So we're going to continue to take time on planning public service. Councilman McKitrich. Continued time on the balance, please. Thank you. Time will be granted. public safety. Councilman McKitrich, time, please. Time will be granted. That concludes our old business. We'll now move into new legislation.

Item number one was the substitute that was already read in. Item number two offered by Mkhitrich. Ordinance authorizing the mayor or his designate to enter into a contract or contracts without the formality of publicly advertising for bids with Striker Sales LLC for the purchase of two power CS to support the delivery of EMS care and patient transport services and declaring an emergency. Councilman Mkitri. Uh the committee's reports favorable. We're asking for suspension of the rules. Are there any objections to suspension of the rules? Seeing and hearing none, the rules have been suspended.

Uh these are two new CS. They're pretty high-tech compared to the older CAS that we had. Um, makes it a lot safer for the patients and safer for our personnel on fire when they're transporting folks. Uh, so we're asking for passage for these two new med units for the cotch. Thank you. The rules have been suspended and the committee's report is favorable. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Any oppose? The eyes have it. This ordinance passes 11 to zero. That concludes our new legislation. We'll now move into committee assignments. Rules. Councilman McKitrich. 2 p.m. Public safety. Councilman McKitrich. 2:15.

Budget and finance. Councilman Lombardo. 3 p.m. Parks and Recreation. Councilwoman Connor. Planning and economic development will meet at 1:00. Housing and neighborhood assistance. Councilman Balden. 3:30. Public service. Councilman McKitrich 2 PM Health and Social Services. Councilwoman Davis, is there anything else coming before council at this time? Council person Wilson.

Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, thank you for the robust discussion. I understand, you know, the resolution failed. I hope we can work on something if there's interest beyond um you know having the screening committees and having interviews and also um putting public engagement into our process not only in practice but uh in policy. Um I think that's really important. Um, I also, you know, personally, um, as a new person to this body, um, I think I I appreciate the level of feedback that I get sometimes, but I feel like when there's so much heart put in and research and work put into legislation and then it's hard to get communication from people who might be opposed, I would just encourage us all to talk a little bit more. Um, I I understand I I wanted to make sure that we understood where we all stood on on screening committee, interview, and public engagement. We just voted down a screening committee, interviews, and public engagement in a process that can put a city councelor in place for up to two years by passing an election by constituents. That's how that works. That's what the appointment process does in essence. Um I I have a lot of worries about that. Um I'm hearing a lot of rumors and things that I don't feel comfortable with, Madame President, about how this process could play out over the next couple weeks. Um and we've shared, you know, I've talked a little bit about that concern with you. Um, so I just I hope and maybe I pray a little bit um that we can be as transparent as possible as we move forward in the next couple weeks.

Um that we bring the public along with this process that can um in my past words in the Akan Beacon Journal looks like appears like a backroom process for a lot of people. I hope we can open the doors a little bit, shed light on what's going on um and bring the public along with it. So, thank you. Um, and I look forward to more robust conversations and I'm okay with the nos. I just want to know why a little bit more next time. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Person. Just for the record, I want to make it very clear. I know we did have a conversation, you know, and again, it was an ask for time. Um, and I think it ended up working out to be just that, right? because I think there's always opportunities to find the middle so that we really can get a strong piece that everyone can agree and wrap their arms around. So, thank you. And I do look forward to if you are willing, as I asked before, to work with you so that we can really do something versus just a vote up, vote down. Let's get it right and let's bring everybody with us along on that journey. Okay. Thank you, Councilman Garrett.

Thank you, Madam President. I I too want to echo uh Council Person Wilson. I mean, this was just opportunity for us to have uh to put that in writing so that we wouldn't appear to have any backdoor deals. And that was the main concern during our town hall that a lot of constituents were were really suggesting, Madame President, and I'm just hopeful that my colleagues sitting around the table um understand how important that is, that we listen to them. They were really clear on what they did not want. And for us to go into this process not listening to them just just seems to to to create a another sense of just we're not listening. We don't hear them. Um we don't care. It was a a joke that folks would say back in the day. The difference between a federal judge and God is that the God knows he's God. Um, and sometimes we around council think that we're above the law, that we don't have to listen to what the folks say, and we should really listen to what they have to say. Uh, with that being said, Madame President, there was another issue of concern, and that's back around police reform. Um, as we talk about police reform, we've been on it um, since Jaylen Walker was tragically murdered. And still to this day, our current mayor ran on the whole issue of issue 10 and police reform. The poor black, white, and brown people of this community have not received any justice as it relates to it. And we have all our colleagues around this table when police reform comes up, they throw their head backs. They sit like they're frustrated and upset. This impacts all of us. This is a quote that we talk about. Although it may not be happening in Ward 6. Well, it did. The gentleman was shot multiple times. No one brought that to the floor. It hasn't happened in Ward 8. Um but what what's the problem is

those tax dollars because we are uninsured will will impact the entire community every single ward with these 20 plus million dollars in lawsuits that eventually we're going to have to settle out with. I mean whether it's uh Jasmir Tucker's lawsuit, Mike Jones lawsuit, or Mr. Corey who was shot in Ward Six and no one brought that conversation even up. And so it's really important, Madame President, that we continue to make this an issue with this mayor who promised that issue 10 would be that in a in a current paper in a black reporter newspaper, this mayor decided to put an article in the paper where he talked about 110 days was he was giving that back to the community as that if that was a gift. 110 days before a police officer could be brought up. Before it was 120 days. So we went back the other way. Madame President, in terms of negotiating with the union, we went the opposite way. It hurted the community. Then he shows up and says, "Well, you got 45 days that the union could extend it." Good luck with the union doing that. They're never going to do that. And then the last thing he said, 180 days for a person to file a complaint. This does nothing for the black community. it does nothing. So, it's unfortunate how a person could really focus on a reelection committee but not focus on the thing that he promised us two years ago. And I would just hope that not only the clergy, not only the grassroot community, but the poor black and white and brown people of our community listen, hear what's happening. There has been nothing that this mayor has done. And it's sad and it's frustrating and people are just disappointed. So, not only are they calling me in reference to this not happening, but when they seem to think of backdoor deals with council, they're further discouraged. We're not hearing from the mayor and now the council's getting ready to do a backdoor deal. They're very disappointed, Madame President. And I just want to make sure

that we make the main thing the main thing, police reform and transparency. Thank you so much, Madam President, for your time. Thank you, Councilman. Councilman Hannah.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Each of my colleagues had the opportunity to say yay a nay. And we also have the opportunity to listen to our residents. My residents in ward five said no, absolutely no to the waste transfer station in my ward. But we didn't listen to them then. So, I'm not saying that I disapprove with your resolution, but if we're going to listen to his resolution, listen to mine, too. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilman. Is there anything else coming before council at this time? If there are no objections, meeting adjourned. This concludes the live broadcast of Akran City Council. Marggo Somerville, president of council presiding.