THOUSAND OAKS : Skei Reappointed to Open-Space Board

Longtime member Rorie Skei has been reappointed to the board of directors of the Conejo Valley’s open space agency over the objections of a member who called for new blood in the organization.

Skei has been on the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency board since 1980 and serves as chairwoman. The board oversees COSCA--a joint-powers agency between Thousand Oaks and the Conejo Recreation and Park District--and is composed of two City Council members, two park directors and a member of the public. As the public representative on the board, Skei, a division chief for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, is the only nonelected member.

Councilwoman Elois Zeanah cast the lone vote against reappointing Skei. The vote was 3 to 1, with Skei recusing herself.

Zeanah said it is time for a change on the committee and favored choosing one of the four other applicants for the position. Richard Farris, William Becher, Michael Poteet and Douglas Nickles were all in the running.

Councilman Andy Fox said he was impressed by the qualifications of all the candidates but Skei was clearly the most qualified for the volunteer position.

“You don’t make replacements just for the sake of making replacements,” he said.