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DiSpirito stays busy as Oberlin City Manager

DiSpirito works on sidewalks and fire escapes

by Susanna Henighan

The Oberlin City Hall and Municipal Building is a modern, angular building located downtown, across from the Post Office and the Oberlin Public Library. Early in the morning, before students have emerged en masse from their dorms and houses, the building is active. Court is in session, the police department investigates crimes, the county clerk is answering questions about the upcoming election and City Manager Rob DiSpirito is meeting with the Oberlin city council chairman.

In five months DiSpirito has fleshed his once minimal knowledge of Oberlin out into a large working awareness of the issues and daily workings of the town.

DiSpirito's position is comparable to a mayor, but is different in fundamental ways. He is a hired professional, and answers directly to the seven-member city council, which hired him and acts as his supervisor.

DiSpirito believes that city managers are preferable to mayors because they have been trained professionally for the job. "Mayors tend to be homegrown," he said. DiSpirito said that mayors could have no previous understanding about government and city managing.

DiSpirito oversees the administration of the Police and Fire Departments, streets, refuse, water and electricity in Oberlin. He is also in charge of code enforcement, economic development, public works and public recreation.

DiSpirito's office reflects his job. Around him are piles of papers that cover the surface of his desk and tend to extend to the floor and chairs around his desk. They are in neat piles though, and post-it notes sit on top of many of the stacks, appearing to organize them.

Also among the papers and pictures in his office is a framed copy of the rock band Rustëd Root's platinum album When I Woke. His brother, Jim DiSpirito, is a drummer in the band. Rob DiSpirito hopes Rustëd Root will come to Oberlin soon. "I think their world beat sound would really appeal to Oberlin," he said.

But DiSpirito doesn't spend most of his time booking shows for his brother. Most of his days are full of meetings with committees, council people, Oberlin residents and his staff.

The big issue currently facing DiSpirito and the city council is sidewalks. The debate centers around whether the city or private residents will pay to fix old sidewalks and build ones where there have never been sidewalks. Residents are rallying around both sides, and a solution is still unclear.

Other issues of importance to students are also on DiSpirito's agenda. A priority of DiSpirito's is enforcement of fire codes on rooming houses - houses which are rented to five or more people. This includes many off-campus houses which students rent. DiSpirito said that the code mandates fire escapes extend from doors rather than windows, and that they be built with a stairwell.

Many fire escapes are currently just ladders nailed to the side of houses. DiSpirito said that the College is helping to compile a list of houses that are renting to five students or more. After they have the address, the city can immediately inspect the house and mandate changes.

DiSpirito's concern over the condition of these off-campus houses are only a part of his overall concern about Oberlin and the College. He said that after arriving in Oberlin he sensed "a real willingness to work together" between the town and the College.

"I think the town really looks forward to [the return of students]," he said. "I think there is a lot of dynamic that returns … It is definitely fun."

DiSpirito said that he feels the College adds an international flavor to the town that residents take pride in. He also said that of all the college towns he has lived in, he feels less "us" and "them" mentality here.

"Schools have flavors. This one has 57 varieties," he said

Before working in Oberlin, DiSpirito worked for four years in Delaware, Ohio, the home of Ohio Wesleyan University and before that he worked in Meadville, Penn., where Allegheny College is located. He grew up in Slippery Rock, Penn., and attended Slippery Rock University there. He received his Masters degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1986.

DiSpirito would like to establish an official town-gown committee that would consisit of a few council members, a code enforcement officer, the fire chief, a public works official and a representative from the Police Department. In the meantime, however, DiSpirito is considering the relationship between the College and the town without a committee.

Another area for collaboration between the College and the town include the proposed Environmental Studies Center. DiSpirito has met with Professor of Environmental Studies David Orr, who is in charge of the project, several times. DiSpirito said he hopes the city can be a part of the project.

In issues of law enforcement and security, DiSpirito also includes the College in his considerations. Recently when two officer positions opened up in the Police Department, DiSpirito included Director of Safety and Security Keith James on the panel that made the selections.

He also said that in meetings with President Nancy Dye they discussed renovation of Crane Pool. Crane Pool is located in Hales Gym, but was closed in 1994. While no decision has been made, it is an area of much discussion.

Community service is another area that DiSpirito thinks binds the College and the town. He said that the spirit of volunteerism is especially strong in Oberlin among the townspeople and students. He appreciates students who volunteer in the community as well as the fact that residents are active on city committees and in the community itself. He talked about the great resources in Kendal at Oberlin, a retirement home in Oberlin, that he feels is home to some of Oberlin's most dedicated and knowledgeable citizens.


Photo:
Rob DiSpirito: Sitting at his desk, city manager Rob DiSpirito administers many aspects of Oberlin government. DiSpirito started working for Oberlin in May. (photo by Susanna Henighan)


Oberlin

Copyright © 1996, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 125, Number 3; September 20, 1996

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