By Mike Freeman, Council President

Everyone wants, but the city is not Santa Claus

If you have a good idea and want city support, then think about bringing some of your own money to the table. That’s what happened in Kenmore with two recently completed projects. Their supporters raised private dollars and in doing so demonstrated to city leaders that the projects were worth public dollar support. At Kenmore Place, a 40-unit senior housing project on Kenmore Boulevard, elderly residents are now moving into affordable housing made possible by Ohio tax credits and help from the city to acquire the property. Also on Kenmore Boulevard, a new landmark clock tower is now keeping time for all to see. It was four-year project that came to fruition because of donations from local businesses and residents. The city liked the project because the group that proposed it was mostly funding what would become a city asset, so the city agreed to match up to $10,000 of the money they raised and to make some improvements to the infrastructure. People often approach the city or their Council Representative saying,“We want this.” It speaks volumes when those folks also leverage the capital they have in their communities. It shows the city that the people don’t just want; they are willing to support their projects financially. That’s why the clock tower and Kenmore Place won city commitments. Our coffers have bo t toms. Partnerships work great.

I started preparing myself when I was 13 for this job. My dad ran for Council, and I worked on his campaign and liked it. I went to Morehouse College and majored in political science with an emphasis in urban studies. When I ran for the Ward 4 Council seat, I thought of it as the first step to becoming mayor. When I was elected, the more senior members of Council advised me to just sit there and be quiet. Well, that’s not my nature. I knew I was well prepared to represent my constituents, and I knew I would have to overcome some Council politics at that time to do my job. In those good old days, I worked very closely with Akron’s young new mayor, Don Plusquellic. I was part of the Council leadership that would regularly meet with him to help shape the city. I was very involved with Canal Park Stadium, and I consider it to be one of my major accomplishments. As chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee, I shepherded the legislation to fund the stadium even though it was not unanimously endorsed. I visited other cities and helped shape the project in ways ranging from its downtown location to its expandability. I also participated in renaming the team from Blast to Aeros after the tragic Discovery accident, so I feel I was a real part AA baseball coming to Akron. I consider my greatest accomplishment on Council to be the Lawton Street Community Center. That was the old West Akron Y, and I had spent many days in my youth playing there. Mount Olive Baptist Church purchased the building but didn’t have the financial resources necessary to rehabilitate it. So I led the charge for the city to buy it from Mount Olive and to invest $2 million to create

Mike Williams talks about leadership and the lost art of debate

Looking back:

what is today a vital community resource and integral part of Schumacher Community Learning Center. It has meant so much to so many people over the years, and it is very rewarding to see the kids and seniors going into that building again. It sets a tone for the community. I’ve always viewed my role and responsibility on Council to be a voice for the minority opinion, and I’ve discovered my strength through that. I’ve learned to stay focused on the needs of the people. I’ve learned to always remember that I am representing them, they are depending on me, and I have no right to misuse the authority they have entrusted in me. I’m not ashamed that there were quite a few 12-1 votes with me being the one. I just represented the citizens. If there has been a disappointment, it is that debate has become almost a lost art in politics. Look back at the debates between Ted Kennedy and Orin Hatch. They went at it with passion about their positions. You could easily conclude they might be mad at each other or even enemies. But when the debate ended, they remained friends who had fundamental respect for one another. Debate is the essence of a legislature, and I believe that everyone should be willing to listen and consider the rationale behind a dissenting voice. What I wish for Council as I leave is for all members to show fundamental respect for what each Council member brings to the table. I hope to see the new Council take its rightful place in city governance. I believe that respectful friction between Council and the administration will make the city better. It is the check and balance of government. When it doesn’t happen, you end up with a disproportionate amount of power in the hands of a few or even one. And absolute power corrupts absolutely. So says Machiavelli and so says my experience. Though I’ve been sitting in my Council seat for 28 years, I’ve always known and understood that it’s not my seat. It belongs to the citizens of Akron. I was just a temporary caretaker of that seat. As I walk away, I don’t

specifically know where the path will lead me, but I’m certain it will involve helping people and most likely children. That’s what I was made for. That’s who I am. I’m now just trying to figure out what God has planned for me next. I offer my gratitude for your confidence and my best wishes to all of the citizens of Akron and my fellow Council members.

“Just the fact that Mike wanted to serve our city for so many years speaks volumes of his commitment to our citizens and shows his spirit of service to our community.” – Mike Freeman, Council President and Ward 10 Council Representative

“I’ve learned a lot from Mike Williams. He brought me to my best game, and if I was sitting on the sidelines, he is the one who pulled me into the game. I have a lot of respect for him. Though we may not have always agreed, he was always considerate of my position.” – Jim Hurley, Ward 2 Council Representative

“Mike is the consummate professional, and he has been a great mentor to me. He taught me how a legislative body works and how to work within it. His experience and knowledge of Council procedures will be greatly missed. I can only hope that I someday become as a good a Council Representative as he has been for 28 years.”– Tara Mosley Samples, Ward 5 Council Representative

VOLUME 2 • 2015NewsAKRON CITY COUNCIL

PUBLISHED BY:Akron City Council

166 S. High St., Ste. 301Akron, Ohio 44308

Mike Freeman, President330-375-2256

Ward9@akronohio.gov

PRODUCED BY:WhiteSpace Creative

24 N. High St, Ste. 200Akron, Ohio 44308Robert Zajac, Ex. VP

330-762-9320bob@whitespace-creative.com

At Large Council Representative Mike Williams is the longest-serving member of Akron City Council. In 28 years, running first as a Ward 4 candidate and then as an At Large candidate, he never lost a City Council election. But for Williams, Council was not the end game. His greatest aspiration was to be mayor, and this year he gave up his Council seat in an attempt to

fulfill his lifelong dream. On January 1, Veronica Sims will take Williams’ At Large Council seat, and he will exit city politics having lost in the Democratic primary to mayor-elect Dan Horrigan. Here, CouncilmanWilliams shares his memories and feelings about serving the citizens of Akron.

VOLUME 2 • 2015NewsAKRON CITY COUNCIL

15AKC004_November Newsletter.indd 1 11/19/15 2:24 PM

December 16. While the end result will be impressive, many residents are frustrated by the how long it is taking, said Ward 7 Council Representative Donnie Kammer. “I know that people are frustrated because it’s a big inconvenience for many residents,” he said.

City goes shopping for policeEven City Council members can get excited when they see a great deal, and the deals Council got on new equipment for Akron’s finest would make any savvy shopper envious. The first came as a gift from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: a $360,000 matching grant to help buy 245 body cameras. After obtaining bids, the city learned it would have to pitch in only about $100,000 to complete the buy. “This is just a great deal for the

city. Body cameras are assets for both police and citizens in today’s society,” said Ward 7 Council Representative Donnie Kammer, who chairs the Public Safety Committee. “It’s very important to protect everyone, including the men and women who wear the uniform, so they can go home to their families at night.” The police department has been testing cameras from several manufacturers to determine which brand will work best for the city. “I’ve talked to the officers

who have been wearing the body cameras and they are telling me they’ve seen a decrease in confrontations,” said Kammer. “The officers in my district said that when they engage a citizen and either point to their body camera or say ‘you’re on camera right now,’ they see an immediate and complete difference in that citizen’s behavior. “It’s anecdotal and there are no statistics, but they like it. If they are doing their job correctly and professionally and following policy, the camera is just additional protection.” The second great deal for the city came courtesy of Austrian gun manufacturer Glock, which offered to sell the city new 9 mm handguns for $75 each with the trade-in of the city’s old duty handguns. The day the deal was presented to Council they approved spending $36,000 for 480 new guns valued at $193,000 retail. “The Glocks are very good handguns and represent another great deal for the city,” said Kammer. “They usually cost $400 per gun, and we’re getting magazine and night sites included. It seems like everything is falling into place to make it better and safer for our police officers.” Most cities replace police handguns every 10 years. Akron’s guns were 13 years old.

The rearmament of the police department did not end with the handguns and body cameras. Council also approved the purchase of 65 additional sets of body armor, ammunition and a number of new cruisers and undercover vehicles. “I think well-equipped safety forces are very important to and supported by our citizens,” said Kammer. “When you are dealing with life and death situations, the proper equipment is essential.” The police department also is getting support from Council President Mike Freeman, who wants additional money set aside for more Tasers. “Not all of our officers have Tasers, which in some situations could deter a police shooting. When you consider the victim as well as the psyche of an officer who is involved in a shooting, and you definitely want a Taser to be an option.” The city has applied for a $100,000 grant to help fund the additional Tasers. “We’re a proactive city,” said Kammer. “We’re highly involved in community policing, and I think that’s helped us get the funding we’ve received. We hope it helps us win more funding so that we can outfit each officer in a modern uniforms, which includes body armor, gun, Taser and body camera.”

FPO

proposed wells by refusing to give up their mineral rights. “The wells being drilled in Akron are relatively shallow at about 4,000 feet. They require drillers to obtain about 20 acres of mineral rights and one acre for the drilling site. If citizens refuse to grant those rights, the wells can’t be drilled.” Keith wants the city to explore ways it can be more involved in monitoring the drilling process. “I don’t believe there is any way we can reclaim home rule. So I ask, what is the best thing we can do without it? I think we have to monitor drilling in our city to ensure that it is being done in an environmentally safe way.”

supersede drilling activities that are permitted by the state,” said Marilyn Keith (Ward 8), Chair of the Planning Committee that oversees drilling requests. While the Ohio Constitution grants cities the right to self-governance, cities cannot enact local laws that conflict with general state laws. Whether it’s gas wells, liquor licenses, gun control or speed limits, local laws can’t clash with state laws. Ward 6 Council Representative Bob Hoch pointed out that when a proposal for drilling comes into Council, the driller has already met all state requirements. “All we can do is approve access to the drilling site. If we say no, its not going to stop it, just maybe postpone it a little. We’ll end up spending money in a court battle and inevitably be forced to allow the drilling to proceed anyway.” “The bottom line is that home rule has been jeopardized, which means that our voice is not going to be heard,” said Keith. The home rule issue has emerged before in Council with liquor establishments that Council did not want licensed or wanted to close. “Back in the day there used to be an ability for the city to dry up a problem bar. It was called a ‘single shot,’ but that option was eliminated by the state,” said At

During the public comment period of City Council meetings, a few activists have been doggedly raising objections for several months about gas well drilling within city limits. They say that drilling and operating wells pollute the environment and put Akron’s water at risk. The drillers counter saying that there is no scientific link between drilling and envi ronmenta l damage. While m o s t Council members sympathize with the activists and would rather not see gas wells in the city, they are helpless in preventing them because state lawmakers have trumped Home Rule Authority when it comes to drilling rights. The state has put control of gas well drilling into the hands of Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “People have to realize that the home rule clause in Ohio’s constitution does not give local government the authority to

Large Council Representative Mike Williams. “Now the state decides who gets a license, and it’s left up to the citizens to dry up an entire precinct to rid themselves of one bad bar. Local authorities have been cut entirely out of the process.” Charter schools are another issue, said Keith, a former schoolteacher. “Look at how charter schools impact our public schools, and in many cases they aren’t performing. Once again, home rule has been taken away. “If marijuana had passed, that would have been an issue, too,” she said. As for gas well drilling in the city, Hoch said the law confines the city, but citizens can prevent

Marilyn Keith

Donnie Kammer

Bob Hoch

Who rules the roost?Council’s wishes often lose to state authority

Wilbeth Road construction nears completionWilbeth Road is undergoing a complete makeover from Manchester Road to Interstate 77, as was promised to Bridgestone in the agreement that kept the company in Akron. The city is replacing the road foundation, widening the road, adding bike lanes, repairing sewers and water lines, putting in curbs, making connections to downspout drains, planting new trees and grass, and installing new street and traffic lights. The project is on schedule to be completed

“One of the biggest problems has been semi-trucks disobeying detour signs and driving through neighborhoods. Those side streets are narrow and have tight turns that a semi can’t make without running through someone’s yard.” Kammer said he has asked the police to increase their watch and they are writing tickets for truck drivers who don’t follow the designated detour routes. “I think everyone involved is doing a good job, including the city and the residents who are

managing the inconvenience. The good news is that it’s on schedule and going to be really nice when it’s done.”

VOLUME 2 • 2015NewsAKRON CITY COUNCIL

15AKC004_November Newsletter.indd 2 11/19/15 2:24 PM