Witkovich resigns from Northglenn council

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Northglen’s Mayor Pro Tem Ashley Witkovich has resigned, and her last day was Feb. 18.

e notice was posted on the City of Northglen’s website.

According to City Spokesperson Diana Wilson, it was for personal reasons.

“Ashley Witkovich resigned for personal reasons. She suddenly needed to reside out of state, so that is why she had to resign quickly from Northglenn City Council,” she said. e move comes after Witkovich was under re from City Councilor Becky Brown for being appointed to the Community Co-Production Policing Advisory Board “behind closed doors.”

“I am incredibly disappointed by city council, especially on this last one, where the tallying and the vote is done before any of the other council people get to speak with other council people. is is the third incident we have had, and I’ve been involved with two of them,” she said.

Witkovich was supposed to be appointed to the CCPP through consent agenda, where the council typically does not discuss the items. Brown asked for the item to be removed from the consent agenda and voted on by itself.

“It matters not to me whether council members have already made their decision, what bothers me is that this council is continuing to politicize these moves that we’ve never had in the past. We’ve always had open conversations, we’ve already talked about it, and this is the second time I’ve been told that council has already made up their minds,” Brown said.

She thinks it takes away a level of transparency from the council and asked for private text messaging and communication about decisions to be held in public. She wanted to be considered for the position.

“Conversations that should be held with all council members are now being held on individual bases,” she said.

Mayor Meredith Leighty said she called and spoke with every council member regarding the position. She said Brown’s attendance and commitment to the CCPP board were reasons she went with Witkovich.

Leighty also noted that with Brown reaching her term limit in November and Witkovich having the potential to be reelected, other councilors were in favor of a more steady appointee, instead of needing to change after the election.

Leighty also said nothing was done behind the scenes, and that many conversations about council members happen via text message. It’s business as usual.

“In my experience, that is how politics works,” Leighty said. “ at was how the City of Northglenn taught me.”

Brown said that when Leighty called her, the council had already accepted Witkovich for the position.

“ at’s not right,” Brown said.

City Councilor Richard Kondo said since the mayor engaged each council member individually, no Sunshine Laws were broken. He also said the conversations were mostly regarding continuity within the position.

“I don’t want to end my term or leave early, I’m just not happy where we are right now,” Brown said.