RC council boots absent councilman

By STACY MILLBERG - Staff Writer - smillberg@starbeacon.com

July 21, 2008 11:27 pm

— ROCK CREEK — Village council members voted unanimously at Monday’s regular meeting to officially remove Todd Skytta from his seat on council.
The decision comes after Skytta’s fifth consecutive unexcused absence from council meetings. According to council rules, after a council member misses three consecutive council meetings, council reserves the right to remove him or her from their position. Skytta was sent two certified letters, the first of which was mailed 60 days ago, giving him the opportunity to explain his absences and appeal to remain on council. Skytta, however, never responded to the letters, said Mayor Beverly Martin.
Martin said she spoke with Skytta recently and asked him to resign his post if he did not plan on fulfilling his duties so council could move on and appoint a new member.
“He said he would think about it and I never heard anything from him,” she said.
Skytta has been a no-show at council meetings since April 21. His absences began shortly before he put up barricades at the village maintenance garage, which he owns and leases to the village. Skytta barricaded the 41 acres of property he has owned for the past three years, because the village refused to pay property taxes, leaving the financial burden on his shoulders.
In a May interview, Skytta told the Star Beacon, the village has not paid rent or property taxes for about a year.
In a 4-1 vote Monday, council members appointed Mark H. Sandercock to fill Skytta’s seat. Kim Gregory voted against Sandercock’s appointment. Sandercock was sworn in by Martin Monday during the meeting.
Sandercock is no stranger to village council. He served on council from 2005 to 2006. Sandercock resigned his post because of difference among council members, he said.
“All I want to do is do a good job,” he said. “I know I can make a difference with the people that are on council now. I couldn’t do anything with the people that were on council then.”