On Sept. 21, City Council approved the second reading of the restructuring proposal to eliminate the Public Works Department, the Planning and Development Department, establish the Utilities Department, Parks and Recreation Department, Building and Zoning Department, and amend the City of Oberlin Position Classification Plan.
Before the first period for public comments of the City Council meeting, City Council President Eboni A. Johnson, OC ’97, read a statement on behalf of the Council affirming that City Manager Greg Holcomb’s decision to reorganize the City’s staff is within his official responsibilities.
“The fact that a restructuring is difficult, unpopular with some individuals, or disruptive to long-established practices does not by itself determine whether it is appropriate,” Johnson said.
The statement addressed criticism among many Oberlin residents that the restructuring was an overreach of the city manager’s jurisdiction, and that such a decision was misaligned with the City’s mission — particularly aspects that had to do with environmental sustainability.
Holcomb first announced the reorganization at the Aug. 17 public hearing after he terminated long-time City employees Linda Arbogast, Carrie Porter, and Jeff Baumann that morning. Proposed to City Council at Sept. 11’s public hearing, the reorganization would dissolve the City government’s Office of Sustainability, Public Works Department, and Planning and Development Department. Supplanting them would be a new Parks and Recreation Department, Utilities Department, and Building and Zoning Department.
As Holcomb presented the organizational flowchart depicting the reorganization, he said the planning and sustainable initiatives coordinator position would relocate to the City’s administrative sector. The position is currently under the purview of the Zoning Department’s chief building official. With this revision, the coordinator would report directly to Holcomb, rather than being supervised by an intermediary chief building official, as is currently the structure.
Holcomb indicated this revision was in response to public comments delivered during the last City Council meeting. He asserted he wants to ensure the City’s sustainable initiatives are prioritized as much as the City’s economic development and social equity work. Councilperson Libni López voiced appreciation for that decision. Some members of the public also echoed López’s appreciation, though comments generally sustained levels of scrutiny similar to the last hearing.
The ordinance was approved for a third reading unanimously.
Council then approved second readings for the official job descriptions of the new positions of utilities director, chief building official, and parks and recreation director. The new positions will be created as the City’s restructuring continues.
The city manager presented revisions to all of the job descriptions that emphasize an ethos for climate action. Experience in sustainability as it relates to utilities and energy conservation, for example, was included on the list of minimum requirements for the new utilities director position.
Some members of the public, while welcoming this language, asserted that more language should be pulled from existing Oberlin Climate Action documents to ensure job candidates meet high standards of dedication and competence to advance Oberlin’s sustainability goals.