FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joan M. Williams, Council Chief of Staff
Email: jwilliams@akronohio.gov
Phone: 330-375-2258
Akron City Council Leadership Announces Initiation of a Comprehensive
Charter Review Process
Akron, Ohio, September 10, 2024 – On September 5th,2024 The Clerk of Council hereby certified that the petition submitted to the Council Clerk’s Office on August 28, 2024, for an amendment to the Akron Charter regarding hiring for Police and Fire Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs was insufficient.
The Summit County Board of Elections reviewed the signatures contained in the 507 part-petitions and determined that they contain 4,187 valid signatures of registered Akron voters, which is less than the 4,862 valid signatures necessary to place this issue on the ballot pursuant to the Ohio Constitution and Charter of the City of Akron.
Today, September 10, 2024, Akron City Council leadership is officially announcing its intention to lead a full Charter Amendment Review Process and propose recommendations for placement on the November 2025 ballot. “We want to be thorough in our review of the Charter and propose amendments that will foster real change in our city,” said President Margo Sommerville. “We plan to ensure that more citizens are engaged in the charter review process and have real input into the powers, duties, responsibilities and organization provisions of their local government.”
Specific details about how the Charter Review Process will proceed will be forthcoming in the days ahead.
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