An online petition is calling for Austintown Trustee Steve Kent to step aside or step down.
 
Those calls echoed again at an Austintown Trustee meeting with angry residents who want someone else to step in and lead the township until the criminal case against Kent is resolved in court. 
 
After Steve Kent was fired from Poland Township Police Department and after he was charged with three counts of sexual battery, involving a minor at the school where he worked as a school resource officer, there were calls for Kent to resign as Austintown Trustee. 
 
Now after a teen filed a civil lawsuit against Kent alleging he is a predator who manipulated, and coerced her into sex acts there are renewed calls, plus a petition on change.org calling for his removal from office. The teen who was 16 and 17 at the time stated in court documents Kent was supposed to make the school safer for students.
 
"He's the head of our community. That's a black eye for our community," Matthew Roselle said.
 
He and others say it's an embarrassment to have Kent as the face representing Austintown Township as its Chairman.
 
He adds at the 4th of July parade Kent caused more embarrassment for the township.
 
"There was a lot of people screaming pedophile, yelling out there oh you like to touch little girls, little kids, and this and that," Roselle said.
 
There is some support in the community for Kent however everyone who spoke with us said he should put Austintown first, and let Monica Deavers or Robert Santos be the chairperson until his criminal case, and a civil lawsuit is over.
 
Donald Betts tells 21 News he always supported Kent, told people to vote for Kent but emphasized this is not good for the township.
 
"If he's innocent I can't fathom what he's going through. If he's guilty he belongs behind bars," Donald Betts said,
 
The Chairman of the Trustees Steve Kent wouldn't talk about the pending civil lawsuit against him or the criminal case. 
 
His next court appearance on three counts of sexual battery and one count of tampering with evidence is set for July 21st. 
 
His trial date is set for July 27th this year, however many times another pretrial is set.
 
The Ohio Attorney General's Office is prosecuting this case. 
 
Mahoning County Prosecutors' office can not prosecute since that office represents Austintown Trustees.
 
More problems were revealed at the meeting.
 
Trustee Monica Deavers was upset and spoke out against the 4th of July Parade Committee left trustees out of events.
 
The committee says they asked Trustee Kent not to take part on stage in a check presentation or at the parade but he did anyway.
 
Traditionally the 4th of July Committee presents awards to churches and local businesses that participate in the parade and the ones that donate money.
 
The Chairman of the 4th of July Committee for the last seven years tells 21 News they asked if they could once again
give out the awards prior to the meeting at the township hall,  but they were told they were not welcome.
 
"Mr. Santos has advised us that two of the trustees Mr. Kent and Ms. Deavers said we were not welcome, the churches, the businesses, and us were not welcome to present the awards,"  Bruce Shepas said. 
 
He and some committee members believe this is in retaliation for asking Trustee Kent not to attend the events. 
 
"With the accusations in the news all the children around and young adults in the parade and around the parade we felt it was best for Mr. Kent to take a step back until things get cleared up," added Shepas.
 
Shepas emphasized, "It's very unfortunate that our representation would not welcome these local churches and businesses. It's about the community. "
 
Around 20 to 25 people including pastors and business owners were recognized at a local business instead of the township hall.