South Summit COG hires Brian Hough as treasurer, lowers fiscal agent pay cap to $30,000

The chair of the South Summit Council of Governments told members at a special meeting that the council voted to hire Brian Hough as treasurer at an annual salary of $12,000, paid biweekly, with a proposed start date of January 5, 2026. According to the chair, Hough signed an acceptance stating, "I accept the position of treasurer with South Summit Council of Governments."

The hire followed a brief selection process: the position was posted, the council received five or six applications, and a review committee made up of the two member cities' finance directors recommended Hough unanimously. The chair said Hough currently works part time in the finance department for the city of Ravenna and serves as controller part time for the city of Kent, and that the committee judged him "extremely well qualified."

Council discussion also covered a separate personnel-level change to fiscal-agency pay. After adjourning to executive session to discuss public-employee compensation with invited finance directors and New Franklin mayor-elect Steve Rector, the council reconvened and moved to reduce the compensation cap for the fiscal agent to "not more than $30,000," effective April 1, 2026. The chair said the change reflects that the treasurer will assume additional responsibilities previously performed by the fiscal agent and noted comparables in setting the cap.

Roll calls reported in the meeting record show Mayor Mary Adamson and Mayor Yergan/Yergin voting yes on both the treasurer appointment and the compensation cap; the chair declared both motions approved. The meeting record does not clearly identify who seconded the initial treasurer motion in the transcript excerpts provided.

The council scheduled its next regular meeting for Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 9 a.m. at City of Green City Hall and adjourned.