Absent From Every Meeting Since Jan. 19 : Carson Councilman’s Health Becomes Issue

Carson City Council members Michael Mitoma and Sylvia Muise tangled this week over the health of fellow council member Tom Mills, who has missed every council meeting since Jan. 19.

The seat of a council member who has been absent for 60 days without being excused automatically becomes vacant. Mills’ absences from the previous four meetings all were excused without objection.

In early February, Mills, 53, told The Times that he was recovering from complications resulting from gall bladder surgery he had in June and that he expected to be back by the end of the month.

“I thought I was going to be back last night,” Mills said from his home Wednesday, but “my strength was not up to par.”

The matter became an issue at Tuesday’s council meeting when Muise, an ally of Mills, made a motion that Mills be excused. Mitoma, aligned with a council faction opposed to one that is composed of Muise and Mills, said: “I would like to know what is wrong with Dr. Mills. Does anybody know what is wrong with Dr. Mills?”

City Clerk Helen Kawagoe said she had visited Mills recently and the councilman informed her that he had had corrective surgery and would be back at council meetings.

“When?” asked Mitoma.

Kawagoe said Mills did not say when.

“Does anybody know precisely what is wrong with Dr. Mills?” Mitoma asked. “Does anybody here know when he is supposed to return? . . . I think the citizens have a right to know.”

Muise responded: “If the citizens wish to know, then the citizens should inquire of Councilman Mills. I don’t think that the council has the right to ask questions or make judgments . . . Councilman Mills is unable to attend the meeting this evening due to ill health.”

When she had finished, Mitoma spoke again:

“This council has the right to ask that question on behalf of the citizens. If he is unable to serve, this council has the right to know. The citizens have the right to know. We have gotten conflicting answers. I want to know what is wrong with him. I want to know if he is going to return and when.”

Mitoma asked City Atty. Glenn Watson to prepare an opinion on whether Mills is entitled to his $671.34 monthly salary and $300-a-month business allowance while sick. Mitoma was the only council member to vote against granting Mills an excused absence.

Later in the meeting, Mills’ absence again became an issue when each council member was asked to name three residents to a city task force on gangs.

Muise proposed that Mills submit names in writing, but Mayor Kay Calas, who is allied with Mitoma and Councilwoman Vera Robles DeWitt, objected, saying the council does not handle matters by proxy.

DeWitt said that Mills’ absence should not be permitted to delay the formation of the task force, whose first meeting is scheduled for March 31.

“It is not very likely that he will be here next meeting,” she said.

But before naming three to fill the spots set aside for Mills, the council decided to see if Mills would be back for the March 15 meeting.

In the interview Wednesday, Mills said he hoped to attend that meeting.

“They have fixed (my) plumbing,” he said. “I think it is just of matter of me eating the right things and building my strength back up. The weather was a little bad the last couple days. I wanted to make sure I didn’t get a cold, so I didn’t go out.”