City Counsel Man

Wallace Maurer is instantly recognizable at city meetings

Sometimes he’s there to question city decisions, sometimes to add new perspective, sometimes to make suggestions. Sometimes, the former Ohio State University English professor is just there to question the placement of a comma. But every time, he’s there to closely examine the business of the city and see if there are any opportunities for improvement.

Maurer has lived in Dublin since 1975. He has two grown children, Randall and Jeffrey.

For many years, Maurer did not speak at council – out of respect for his then-wife, Barbara Avery, who spent several years on council. But in 1993, after Avery left council, he began to speak up.

“I guess I wanted to be at the other end of American government” as an involved citizen, he says.

On the day of a council meeting, Maurer studies the agenda at City Hall, and in the evening, he signs up for public comment wherever he deems necessary. Though council members do not always see things his way – and, he suspects, “get annoyed every so often” – they have always answered his questions.

precedented in politics: admitting error.

Maurer argued passionately for the city to consider building a theater dedicated to Irish drama instead of a planned golf course, and suggested two possible highconcept art pieces for development at the corner of Bridge and High streets. The theater concept is one that stood out to city Director of Parks and Open Spaces Fred Hahn as an example of how creative Maurer’s mind is, Hahn says.

Maurer often brings up points city officials might not have considered, and he also routinely points out any writing errors he might spot with his finely tuned English skills.

“Sometimes, what your brain tells you is just routine business that doesn’t really necessarily warrant any questions, lo and behold, he has lots,” says Hahn.

But his greatest victory was the water situation.

At one meeting, Maurer pointed out the inconsistency of the city professing faith in its water system while all city officials and council members were drinking bottled water.

One issue Maurer frequently addressed was a personnel decision with which he did not agree. He protested the decision for years, achieving some level of redemption when a motion to stop him from talking about the issue was rescinded. Maurer subsequently lauded City Council for doing something un-

“They did shift to Dublin water … up there,” Maurer says. “That is my major triumph after all these years at council.”

“We all looked at each other and said, ‘He’s got a point,’ and we stopped doing it,” says former mayor and current Councilwoman Marilee Chinnici-Zuercher.

Having someone like Maurer paying such close attention to the workings of the city is encouraging to see, Hahn says.

“A community is well served by having a Mr. Maurer keep an eye on it,” says Hahn.

Though he has never had a desire to serve on council, Maurer has great respect for the people who do and the positive work they have done, especially when it comes to conservation design.

Outside of council chambers, Maurer has spent many years involved in the Dublin Irish Festival. He occupies a seat on the founders’ committee, and has for many years been known as someone who can bring in major Irish literary figures for the festival.

Much of Maurer’s time is spent taking care of his four-acre property on Dublin Road. One year, out of curiosity, he decided to let the grass grow rather than mow it all down, and was astonished by the fruit and wildflowers that popped up. Now, he takes care to mow paths and let parts of the lawn grow.

“I’ve tried to protect it like a tigress protecting a cub,” he says.

Lately, Maurer has focused on music. He spent an entire year preparing a piano concert and performed the end result in January 2010 at the Graves Organ and Piano Company Recital Hall in north Columbus.

“True modesty and false modesty don’t prevent me from telling you I got a standing ovation,” Maurer says.

The popularity of the first concert led Maurer to begin work on a second one, which he will perform Oct. 9 at the Abbey Theater. The concert begins at 3 p.m.

Garth Bishop is a contributing editor. Feedback and comments welcome at gmartineau@pubgroupltd.com