Council approves waste transfer station; discusses the police incident at the Firestone CLC

DOWNTOWN AKRON – The Akron City Council approved a conditional use permit for a proposed trash and recycling transfer station and trash hauler during the Oct. 21 meeting.
The council has previously discussed the project at length, including a nearly nine-hour public hearing on the project on Oct. 3. WM, formerly known as Waste Management, plans to build the WM Akron Eco-Center at 1400 E. Archwood Ave. Currently, WM operates a transfer station on Fountain Street, adjacent to State Route 8.
Councilman Johnnie Hannah (D-Ward 5), who represents the area where the facility is planned, held a community meeting on Oct. 17 to hear residents' opinions. He said concerns were raised during that meeting about property values ​​if the project were built in District 5.
“The residents of Ward 5 have spoken,” Hannah said. “When do we start listening?”
Hannah made a motion to take time on the conditional use permit, but the motion failed by a vote of 5-8. Supporting the motion to take time were Hannah, Council President Margo Sommerville (D-Ward 3), Council Member Donnie Kammer (D-Ward 7), Councilwoman Jan Davis (D-Ward 4) and Council Member Samuel DeShazior (D-Ward 1). .
After the failed vote on the deadline, the council voted 10-3 to approve the conditional use permit, while Hannah, Davis and Sommerville voted no.
According to WM officials, city trucks will bring trash to the facility and dump trash inside, which will then be packed onto trailers and taken to a landfill. Recycled items would also be brought to the facility and sorted. An odor suppression system would be installed that sprays trucks as they enter the facility. The new proposed center would include the transfer building, recycling facility, office space, truck scales, a maintenance shop and a gas station. There would also be a community drop-off point for other items.
During the meeting, the council also discussed an incident that occurred at the Firestone Community Learning Center (CLC) between two Akron police officers and a student.
According to city officials, on Oct. 16, a 16-year-old student bypassed the metal detectors when he entered Firestone and was escorted back to the metal detectors by Firestone employees because school policy requires any person entering the building to go through the Detectors have to go. There were two Akron Police officers working in Firestone that morning – the assigned School Resource Officer (SRO) and another officer on the side.
Video surveillance shows the student being led to the metal detector several times before attempting to evade the officers. The officers wrestle with the student, and during this interaction, the SRO strikes the student in the head several times.
Akron Public Schools (APS) has requested that both officers be removed from Firestone because the SRO has been assigned administrative duties and the other officer is on his regular patrol shift.
City officials added that the student was initially charged with resisting arrest, obstructing official business and trespassing. The city has since spoken with the Summit County Prosecutor's Office and they have agreed to dismiss these charges without prejudice while the use of force investigation takes place.
Akron Police will conduct an internal use of force review and continue to investigate the entire incident. Once completed, this report will be submitted to the Independent Police Auditor and the Citizen's Police Oversight Board for review.
Kammer said he wanted to see a copy of the contract between the city and APS for SROs. He said he heard APS would not allow officers to wear body-worn cameras in schools.
“Think about what a body-worn camera could have done in this incident at the Firestone CLC,” Kammer said. “I think it’s time to remove these officers from the APS.”
He added that it was time for APS to hire its own security service.
Councilman Bruce Bolden (D-Ward 8) said there needs to be time to review the details of the incident.
During the public comment portion of the council meeting, Brian Lucey, president of Akron Lodge 7 of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), spoke about his concerns with APS.
“I suggest that Akron Police officers immediately begin wearing body-worn cameras to protect themselves from false accusations made by the superintendent [Michael] Robinson,” Lucey said. “If officers were equipped with these cameras, they would have caught Robinson about a month ago threatening to have a student arrested for not entering the building. The principal threatened a student and attempted to do so with the help of an officer.”
Lucey also raised concerns about City Councilman Eric Garrett (D-at-large), whose comments called for the resignation of Akron Police Chief Brian Harding. He said his comments were not helpful in police recruitment and retention.
Garrett responded, saying Harding was “unfit to lead this force” and called the police force “out of control.” He said the city will continue to receive money for lawsuits over police incidents in the city until a change occurs.
“But what we’re getting is more of this garbage from the FOP,” Garrett said. “I'm not afraid of them [Mayor] Shammas [Malik]that's not me. That’s not me at all.”
Councilman Jeff Fusco (D-at-large) defended Harding, adding that he has only been chairman for four months and deserves time to make changes.
The Council also approved the following:
• Conditional use permits for the construction of a commercial garage at 629 Flora Ave. and the construction of a dual-use cannabis cultivation and processing facility at 1055 Home Ave.;
• Conditional approvals to establish a dual-use cannabis dispensary at 10 S. Canton Road, a dual-use cannabis cultivation facility at 1956 S. Main St., a dual-use cannabis processing facility at 844 E. Tallmadge Ave . and a dual-use cannabis dispensary at 1568 E. Archwood Ave.;
• A resolution declaring that the six towing companies that have expressed interest and qualifications to serve in a designated towing district will be assigned a towing district as part of the City Council's review of designated towing districts in 2024; And
• An $89,775 contract with VanDevere Chevrolet to purchase a new vehicle to be used as the Akron Fire Department's diving rescue vehicle.
The council's next meeting will be Oct. 28, with committee meetings at 1 p.m. and a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers on the third floor of the Akron Municipal Building, 166 S. High St. The public may attend the meetings on the council's YouTube follow page, with a link available at www.akroncitycouncil.org.