Veres steps down after 19 years as
 finance director to take job in Macedonia

by Erica Peterson

Finance Director John Veres, who was up for re-election to his seventh term this fall, accepted a job with the city of Macedonia as its finance director as of March 4.

“Although I have enjoyed my role for the last 19-plus years with the city, at the end of the day, not seeking re-election is the best decision for me and my family going forward,” Veres wrote to Mayor Anthony Togliatti.

He is resigning as of May 3. Veres declined to comment further.

He will earn $90,000 a year with benefits in Macedonia for the appointed position, Macedonia Mayor Nick Molnar said. Veres earned $65,000 a year for the last eight years in the elected position in Independence.

“I believe Mr. Veres will bring a tighter and more transparent focus to the city and will be a very talented management team member,” he said.

Molnar said Macedonia received more than 100 applications for the position, and he interviewed four of them.

“John was far and above the rest,” he said, pointing to his years of municipal finance experience with Independence’s “robust” budget.

Veres, a certified public finance administrator, has earned the Ohio Auditor of State’s Award with Distinction for six years, an achievement earned by less than 5 percent of municipalities statewide.

Molnar said he and Togliatti are working out a way that Veres can work full time in Macedonia and part time in Independence, until his replacement is up and running.