The Cleveland City Council has declined to reimburse the Browns for $1.1 million in stadium repairs despite the city's obligation to do so.
According to WKYC, members expressed frustrations around the Browns plans to move to Brook Park as the reason for the snub.
The resolution failed by a 7-6 vote and comes as the Browns have already made what were deemed essential upgrades to the existing city-owned stadium despite plans to demolish it within five years when the club leaves downtown for the suburbs.
Mayor Justin Bibb's administration has said the repairs were necessary to safely operate the stadium, and that the city is required to repay the Browns for such maintenance under the terms of the facility's existing lease.
The work included repairs related to a failed sanitary pump, a sewer ejector pump failure, failed pipe insulation, and an overhead door, among several other projects.
"There's an undercurrent taking place here: People aren't happy. They feel we're being sold out, they know we were sold out," council member Michael Polensek told members of the administration who attended Monday's council meeting. "We're frustrated. We're not happy with losing the Browns, and we sure as hell are not happy with losing that stadium."
