Note to readers:
The following item is a written record of the Ward 2 meeting from Aug. 26, 2026, compiled by Akron Documenter Jessica Rice. It is not a reported story.
Documenters are residents who are trained to observe and document local government meetings. Their notes are edited before publication for clarity and accuracy — unless quotation marks are used, all text is paraphrased.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalakron.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.
Summary:
- University of Akron President R.J. Nemer spoke about his efforts to increase enrollment at the school by improving marketing and news coverage and networking with out-of-state school counselors.
- Dawn Zelich, a precinct election official coordinator, said the Summit County Board of Elections is looking for poll workers.
- Ward 2 Council Member Phil Lombardo said the Latin and Greek festivals are coming up. He also said that the speaker in September will be Summit County Council Member Jeff Wilhite, District 4, who will discuss the Family Promise of Summit County organization.
Documenter’s follow-up questions:
- During the meeting, an elections official said that being a poll worker requires long hours. How many people repeatedly apply to be a poll worker? Is the work hard?
- During the meeting, an audience member spoke about the impression that the University of Akron is a high-crime area. What are the crime statistics for the campus and surrounding area?
Ward 2 meeting notes
The meeting was held at the Patterson Park Community Center on Patterson Avenue, where 36 people were in attendance. Ward 2 Council Member Phil Lombardo began the meeting early at 5:55 p.m. to accommodate the first speaker’s time constraints.
University of Akron president talks about school’s offerings
R.J. Nemer, president of the University of Akron, discussed his efforts to improve the enrollment and reputation of the university. He said the school has accomplished several notable achievements but realizes that the community is unaware of many of them. He has been working with the local media and out-of-state school counselors to spread the word about the great things happening. This year he plans to move more than 100 staff members to downtown’s Polsky Building with hopes to improve the number of people coming to the area. He wants the university and the city to work in tandem to make Akron better.
150 security cameras help with public safety, Nemer says
As part of a question-and-answer session with Ward 2 meeting attendees, Nemer was asked how he is working with the city to to lessen fears about violence on campus.
Nemer said the university, working with the city and Summit County, has installed “sophisticated” cameras in the area, and, as a result, crime activity is down.
“One of the areas that was a problem for us, if you’re on our campus, would be south of Exchange Street,” he said. “We worked in tandem with the city and the county and installed about 150 cameras that do something like 2,500 different views and angles that they can capture.”
(Editor’s note: According to UA Police Chief Jim Gilbride the university has installed 150 general security cameras on campus over the past two years to replace aging analog cameras with modern technology that provides wider views and broader coverage. There are no Flock Safety cameras used on campus.)
Nemer credits the use of this technology in helping reduce crime in that area.
“Since those have been installed about a year now, we’ve seen a rapid decline in any sort of crime activity over there,” he said.
He considers his university to be one of the safest when compared to schools in Columbus, Toledo, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
Development can also help reduce crime
Development in the area will also help reduce crime, Nemer said.
He referred to ongoing work with the university’s Polsky Building on South Main Street. Another example Nemer shared was the recent demolition of the Lincoln Building to make way for a polymer innovation center at the corner of Mill and Lincoln Streets. This, he said, will bring more workers to the area, with approximately 200 university employees moving downtown.
Nemer answers public’s questions
Nemer fielded multiple questions from residents ranging from UA’s programs to opportunities for middle school students.
Q: The basketball coach recently resigned from the university. How do you feel about that? Nemer said he understands that people need to move on and feels that the new coach is the perfect fit for the school.
Join the movement for transparency
Civic power can start with you! We train and pay Documenters to take notes at local government meetings and share them here. Learn more about becoming a Documenter.
Q: Can you speak about the polymer program? The polymer program is number one in the world, Nemer said. He is working to recruit companies that can make Akron an epicenter for Polymer research.
The goal he said is to do what “they did in the research triangle in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to be an epicenter for research in polymers.”
He discussed polymer-based synthetic adhesive used in artwork restoration. “It was developed here and is actually being used in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Louvre in Paris, the Met in New York,” Nemer told the audience.
Q: Do you have a lot of engineering programs? He said yes and talked about one group called the Akronauts Rocket Design Team that built a large and powerful rocket in 2026. The team successfully static-fired an 8-inch solid rocket motor.
Q: Why doesn’t the community know about UA’s achievements? Nemer said he is working with the press to improve reporting to the community. He’s rebuilt the marketing department in an effort to better tell the university’s stories.
Q: What does the university have to offer middle school students? Akron Early College is currently offered, but Nemer plans to do more in the future to encourage students to attend.
Q: Do you have a robotics program? Nemer said yes and referred to the robotics club and an “unbelievable” robotic dog that students created.
Lombardo presented Nemer with a Ward 2 appreciation trophy and they posed for photos.
Poll workers needed for upcoming election
Dawn Zelich, a precinct election official coordinator representing the Summit County Board of Elections, advised everyone that they are currently recruiting poll workers for the November general election. They will pay $30 for training, $25 for one meeting before Election Day and $133 for working on Election Day. Anyone interested should call 330-643-5200.
Residents encouraged to attend upcoming Ward 2 events
Lombardo made a few announcements regarding upcoming events before concluding the meeting.
1. The Latin Festival will be held at Lock 3 on Sept. 19, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
2. The Greek Festival will be held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Sept. 17 to 19, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The meeting lasted for approximately 45 minutes, ending at 6:39 p.m. The next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 30 at this location. Summit County Council Member Jeff Wilhite will be the guest speaker. He will discuss the Family Promise of Summit County, and organization which helps homeless families achieve sustainable independence.
