Bath Township Administrator Applicants: Vito Sinopoli

Editor's Note: This article was updated at 8:49 a.m. on Sept. 13 to add and correct information.

Next in our is Vito Sinopoli, officer.

Sinopoli has been an officer for Bath Township since 1985 and also works as an attorney at Sinopoli & Sinopoli Co. LPA. Sinopoli also works for the Ohio Attorney General's Office as an instructor.

Sinopoli graduated from the University of Akron in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and in 1992 from the University of Akron School of Law in 1992.

Additionally, Sinopoli served as president and managed day to day operations of a residential/commercial construction business from 1989 through 2007.

and Fairlawn-Bath Patch asked each the same five questions. If you have a question for the applicant, tell us in the comments and we'll ask them.

Please note: No one is running a campaign. The final applicant will be appointed by the trustees.

FB Patch: Why do you want to be Bath Township Administrator?

Vito Sinopoli: I’ve had the privilege to serve the community of Bath Township for the past 27 years as a police officer in both full and part-time capacities.   I grew up in Bath and have family living in the township.  My commitment of service to the township has been unwavering, and remains so.  Through my work as a Bath police officer, I have come to know many of the residents and business operators in the township and have developed relationships with them over the years.  I understand their needs and would like the opportunity to meet those needs at a higher level, drawing on the broader range of skills and experience I possess as a business owner and attorney.  The residents of the Bath community expect and deserve a top-notch level of service.  I believe maintaining that level of service should be a priority.  In addition, Bath residents are drawn to the township’s rural character.  This is an appealing aspect of the community I would strive to preserve.  I would welcome the opportunity to foster these and other aspects of the township that make Bath such a desirable place to live and work.  I also look forward to the possibility of being able to work more closely with the Trustees, the heads of our various township departments, and the township employees I’ve worked alongside for nearly three decades.

FB Patch: What changes do you want to make/new ideas do you want to implement in Bath?

Sinopoli: By statute, the Township Administrator serves at the direction of the Board of Trustees and assists in the administration, enforcement and execution of policies and resolutions.  In this role, I would see it as my obligation and privilege to work with the Trustees to develop and implement a shared vision that best serves the interests of the Bath community.  Like other states, the State of Ohio is faced with a number of budgetary issues which currently affect and will continue to impact local governments.  State level funding to townships has decreased and will continue to do so in the future.  Therefore, it will be important for the Township Administrator to work closely with the Trustees to build plans that will heed prudent budgetary parameters while at the same time being mindful of the need to maintain the character, qualities and services that define Bath Township.  Meeting with the Trustees, township employees and department heads, residents, and business representatives, especially early on in the position but on an ongoing basis, will be critical to defining a vision for the future of the township.

FB Patch: Do you live in Bath Township?  If not, do you plan to relocate? 

Sinopoli: Although I don’t currently live in the township, I grew up in Bath and currently live within walking distance of the township border.  Should the opportunity to again reside in Bath present itself, I would certainly consider that option.

FB Patch: Why are you qualified for the position?

Sinopoli: I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration as well as a Juris Doctor, both from the University of Akron.  I am also a commissioned police officer who has served Bath Township for nearly 30 years.  As a private practice attorney, business owner, and Bath Township police officer, I have a broad range of experience and skills which I believe make me uniquely qualified for the position of Township Administrator.   Through my legal work, I am familiar with legislative mandates and initiatives in place in the township, county, state, and nation which impact Bath Township on a daily basis.  I am also skilled in mediating and resolving disputes and troublesome issues in a host of areas.  As a business owner for more than 20 years, I have successfully managed budgets, employees, client relationships, and the myriad of other details involved in overseeing an entity, be it business or governmental.  My business and legal experience have given me great insight into the financial and governance perspectives of the township.  With the loss of certain revenue sources, the Township Administrator will need to work creatively and collaboratively to ensure the continued level of service to which our residents are accustomed.  If selected as Administrator, I will serve as a steward not only of the township’s finances to ensure that this community will remain stable for the future, but also of its amenities to ensure that Bath Township will remain a place its residents are proud to call home.  Long-range planning will be an integral part of my work on behalf of the township.

I am also humbled to have had the opportunity to work alongside some of the key business and governmental leaders in our community and our state.  Through my work with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, the Summit County Sexual Assault Coalition, and most recently through my election to Leadership Akron, I continue to hone leadership skills, develop state-wide contacts and tap resources that will allow me to offer the highest possible level of service to Bath Township.

Perhaps most importantly, over the course of the past 27 years as a police officer in Bath, I’ve been able to work with many families and businesses in the township and have gained a tremendous understanding of the life of the township and its government.  I have seen this township and its people in the best of times and the worst of times, and have worked tirelessly to assist in times of need.  My sense of professionalism in even the most difficult of situations and my reputation as a problem solver have helped me gain the respect and trust of many people in this community.  I have a deep understanding of the expected level of service in Bath Township, and have tried to meet and exceed those expectations at every opportunity.

I believe being selected as Bath Township Administrator would be the culmination of all that I have worked for, and would allow me to employ all of the skills and attributes that uniquely qualify me to serve the people of this community.

FB Patch: What is your favorite season and why?

Sinopoli: Enjoying water sports and time with my family make summer my favorite season.