Hiram council appoints Megan Fogel as fiscal officer; Szell nominated council president

Hiram Village Council appointed Megan Fogel as the village Fiscal Officer and took steps to formalize leadership for the new year at its Jan. 14 meeting in the Rosser Municipal Building.

Mayor Anne Haynam presented Fogel’s appointment and the council approved the hire at an annual salary of $55,000. The motion to appoint Megan Fogel was made by Council President Christopher Szell and seconded by Council member Christopher Perme; it passed 5-0. Council and staff discussed the Fiscal Officer’s initial reporting and the need to include bank statements in the Fiscal Officer’s regular reports.

Separately, council member Ed Frato-Sweeney nominated Council President Christopher Szell for the office of Council President; Mr. Szell accepted the nomination and Juan Fernandez seconded. The nomination vote was recorded 4-0-1, with Mr. Szell recorded as abstaining on that motion.

Mayor Haynam delivered the State of the Village attachment and noted that the village had lifted the suspension of the Village Pass. She also told council that Council member Justin Bisutti will be stepping down from council and from assigned committees.

Council convened an executive session under Ohio Revised Code 121.22 at 8:31 p.m. for personnel matters and reconvened at 9:45 p.m. The motions to enter and to reconvene were approved 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

What happens next: the newly appointed Fiscal Officer will begin processing financial records and council will continue onboarding, and any formal changes to committee assignments will be set in subsequent meetings.