Akron Council opposes SB 117
By Stephanie Kist
DOWNTOWN AKRON — The 11 members of Akron City Council present for the June 4 meeting voted unanimously to oppose Ohio Senate Bill 117. Councilwomen Reneé Greene (D-Ward 4) and Terry Albanese (D-Ward 6) were absent.
The resolution, which was sponsored by Councilman Michael Williams (D-at large), has been on Council’s agenda for several weeks as the bill, which would introduce changes to cable franchising in Ohio, made its way through the legislature in Columbus.
“The key issues that we
have concerns about have not changed to date,”
Williams said during the Public Utilities Committee
meeting.
Williams stressed that Council
is not against competition but is concerned with the
way franchising and the cable industry would be regulated,
and also with the fate of public access channels.
Committee Chairwoman Tina Merlitti
(D-Ward 7) added the state is again attempting to strip
power from cities.
“We need to make our voice
heard while they’re in the negotiation process,”
she said.
[For
more information on SB 117, see “Cable bill opponents
continue fight,” which appeared on Page 1 of the
May 17, 2007, edition of the West Side Leader, or visit
the archives at www.akron.com.]
In other business, Council requested
time on two ordinances paving the way for a water agreement
with the city of Cuyahoga Falls.
As part of the agreement, Akron
water service would be provided to some parcels in Cuyahoga
Falls that abut Akron water lines in the former Northampton
Township. Those water customers would pay the Akron
rate plus 45 percent, which is a rate reduction for
residents of Towpath Village off Akron-Peninsula Road,
who currently pay the Akron rate plus 77 percent.
Also, Cuyahoga Falls would transfer
several parcels totaling about 24 acres to the city
of Akron, and Akron would transfer 20 acres to Cuyahoga
Falls. [For more information
on the proposed agreement, see related News & Notes
item in the May 31, 2007, edition of the West Side Leader,
or visit the archives at www.akron.com.]
Merlitti asked her colleagues
on Council to review the ordinances in preparation for
a vote at an upcoming Council meeting. Cuyahoga Falls
City Council approved the agreement May 29.
Also at the meeting, Council
passed an ordinance determining to proceed with the
improvement of West Market Street between Pershing and
Hawkins avenues in West Akron. The $6.2 million project
is slated to begin construction this week, lasting through
the construction season, stopping for the winter and
recommencing next spring.
Utility work related to the project
has been taking place since late winter.
In related news, Council’s
Public Service Committee was made aware the city plans
to start residential and arterial collector resurfacing
June 11.
In other business, Council:
• approved by a vote of
7-4 a motion for no consideration made by Councilman
Bob Keith (D-Ward 8) on an ordinance sponsored by Councilman
John Conti (D-at large) authorizing
Council to hire a community quality assurance auditor.
According to Conti’s request for legislation,
the auditor would make inquiries with city departments
with regard to service complaints received by members
of Council.
Approval of a motion for no consideration
means the measure is defeated without discussion. Keith
said after the meeting he made the motion based on a
memo from Law Director Max Rothal stating the city charter
does not permit Council to appoint such a position and
the ordinance couldn’t be enforced if approved.
“City Council can’t
hire anybody,” Keith said, adding Mayor Don Plusquellic
is designated as the city’s “appointing
authority”;
• authorized two advance
payments of $300,000 each to be made in 2007 and 2008
to the All-American Soapbox Derby to cover a deficit
derby officials say is due to a shortfall in promised
sponsorship funding. The payments will be advance royalties
from the gas wells at the Akron Fulton Airport. The
royalties, about $100,000 per year, have been designated
to the derby since 2002;
• approved an EMS mutual
aid agreement with the city of Tallmadge;
• approved the sale of the
Gothic Building at the corner of South High and East
Mill streets in Downtown Akron to developer Gothic City
Revival Group LLC;
• authorized a contract
with the Catholic Youth Organization for the operation
of a summer recreation program for youths with disabilities
and an agreement with the Summit County Historical Society
for the operation of the Akron History Museum at Lock
3 Park during 2007;
• approved a conditional-use
permit for the placement of rooftop antennas at 730
Callis Drive; and
• heard a report from Plusquellic
about Neighbors Day, the first event of its kind in
Akron that encouraged residents to organize neighborhood
events and get to know their neighbors May 26.
Plusquellic said 140 locations
registered with the city to host Neighbors Day events.
“This was extremely successful,”
he said, adding the city plans another Neighbors Day
next year, incorporating a few new ideas.
The next Council meeting is set
for June 11 at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers on the
third floor of the Akron Municipal Building, 166 S.
High St.
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