About Our Department 
The City of Aurora Law Department consists of the Law Director, Alan I. Shorr and Paralegal, Angie M. Pereces. The Department is located on the second floor at Aurora City Hall, 130 S. Chillicothe Road, Aurora, Ohio 44202.

The City contracts with outside legal counsel for various issues including Criminal Prosecution, Labor Relations, Planning and Zoning, Civil Litigation, and Tax Levy/Bond issues. 

  Departmental Contact Information 

Alan Shorr
Law Director
(330) 995-8866
shorra@auroraoh.com

Mr. Alan I. Shorr was appointed Law Director for the City of Aurora January 1, 2002. As Law Director, Mr. Shorr acts as Legal Advisor and Attorney to the Mayor, City Council, all Administrative Departments, Commissions and Boards. In addition, the Law Director drafts legislation, renders Legal Opinions, and reviews all city contracts.

Biography - Alan I. Shorr, Esq.

Mr. Shorr graduated cum laude from Ohio University in 1966 and summa cum laude from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law of Cleveland State University in 1970. He has been admitted to the Ohio Bar since 1970 and passed the Ohio CPA exam in 1968. Prior to joining the Christley, Herington & Pierce law firm he was an executive with several industrial companies. His practice is concentrated in the areas of corporate, real estate and municipal law. In addition to serving as Law Director for the City of Aurora, he maintains a private legal practice and is the managing partner of the Christley, Herington & Pierce law firm in Aurora.

Alan has been active in community affairs serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Aurora's Board of Zoning Appeals, Board of Directors of Portage County United Way, Member of Aurora Schools Business Advisory Council, Leadership Portage County and the Portage County Foundation. In 1998 he was named Aurora's Citizen of the Year.

The City of Aurora contracts with outside counsel for Criminal Prosecution Services. Mr. David S. Hirt is currently Aurora's Criminal Prosecutor. Mr. Hirt's office is located at 215 W. Garfield, Suite 230, Aurora, Ohio 44202. Mr. Hirt can be contacted directly at 330.562.3156, fax 330.562.9540, email: dsh@chpohiolaw.com   webpage:  www.chpohiolaw.com

Biography - David S. Hirt, Esq.

Mr. Hirt was licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio in 1994. Prior to joining Christley, Herington & Pierce in 1999, David was in private practice and was an assistant public defender with the Portage County Defender's Office. At Christley, Herington & Pierce, David has a general practice of law, with an emphasis on school law, including special education and student discipline, enrollment and tuition. His practice also emphasizes traffic and criminal law, both as a prosecutor of traffic and criminal violations for the City of Aurora and as a defense attorney. David serves as legal counsel to the City of Aurora Board of Zoning Appeals. He also represents clients on appeals of criminal and civil cases. David is admitted to practice before all state courts in the State of Ohio, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

David has a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Kent State University. He is also a graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where he earned a Master of Science degree in geology. David earned his Juris Doctorate from the School of Law at Indiana University in Bloomington after spending one year as a visiting student at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a member of the Ohio State and Portage County Bar Associations.

David is a past Chairman of the Portage County Bar Association Certified Grievance Committee. He has also served on the Allocations Committee of United Way of Portage County since 2000. He is a past member of the City of Kent Board of Zoning Appeals.

Reported Cases:

State v. Edmonson (1999), 86 Ohio St.3d 324, 715 N.E.2d 131

State v. Dalpiaz (2003), 151 Ohio App.3d 257, 7783 N.E.2d 976, cert. den., 99 Ohio St.3d 1409, 788 N.E.2d 648

 

In addition to criminal prosecution, the City of Aurora contracts outside legal counsel for Labor Relations, Planning and Zoning, Board of Zoning Appeals, Civil Litigation, and Tax Levy/Bond Issues. The contact information for outside legal counsel is as follows:  

Legal Advisor Labor Relations:   Ronald J. Habowski, 215 W. Garfield, Suite 230, Aurora, Ohio 44202.  330.562.3156  Fax 330.562.9540  email: rjh@chpohiolaw.com   webpage: www.chpohiolaw.com

Legal Advisor Planning and Zoning:   Thomas Reitz, 215 W. Garfield, Suite 230, Aurora, Ohio 44202.  330.562.3156   Fax 330.562.9540  email:  trr@chpohiolaw.com  webpage: www.chpohiolaw.com

Legal Advisor Board of Zoning Appeals:   David S. Hirt, 215 W. Garfield, Suite 230, Aurora, Ohio 44202.  330.562.3156   Fax 330.562.9540  email: dsh@chpohiolaw.com  webpage: www.chpohiolaw.com

Misc. Civil Litigation:  Douglas K. Paul, 215 W. Garfield, Suite 230, Aurora, Ohio 44202.  330.562.3156    Fax  330.562.9540  email: dkp@chpohiolaw.com   webpage: www.chpohiolaw.com

Tax Levy/Bond Issues:  Squire, Sanders & Depmsey, L.L.P., 4900 Key Tower, 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1304.    216.479.8500     Fax 216.479.8780  webpage:   www.ssd.com

Department of Law
Aurora City Hall
130 South Chillicothe Road
Aurora, Ohio 44202
(330) 995-9160
fax: (330) 995-9185