Akron rules committee suspends rules to approve council social media supervisor resolution

The Rules Committee of the Akron City Council on Tuesday voted to suspend the rules and advance a resolution designating a council social media supervisor and authorizing the council president to approve content posted on official City Council social media accounts.

The measure, described as an emergency resolution, drew brief remarks from the council president and Dr. Williams, the council chief of staff. "We are excited as we are moving closer to the official launch of our social media presence," the council president said, and asked colleagues to review the proposed policy. Dr. Williams said the account will give the council "another way that we're reaching out to engage our constituency and let them know what is going on in terms of the legislative affairs of council."

Committee members moved and seconded suspension of the rules so the resolution could proceed immediately; the motion carried on a voice vote. Committee leadership said they will distribute the approved measure to full council the same day.

The resolution, as presented, assigns an administrative role to a designated council user to establish, administer and moderate a council social media account, and gives the council president final approval authority over content posted by that account. Committee members did not ask for substantive changes during the meeting; the chief of staff said staff expect to launch the account "in the next few weeks."

Absent from the meeting were two committee members noted on the roster; the chair confirmed a quorum was present before calling the item. The committee adjourned after advancing the measure to the full council.