Snoddy steps in as Scottsville’s new mayor

The Scottsville Town Council voted unanimously Monday to appoint John Snoddy to replace departing Mayor Stephen Phipps.
In addition to being vice mayor, Snoddy has chaired the Town Council’s Public Safety Committee.
“He’ll do a great job,” Phipps said.
Councilor Bebe Williams said Snoddy is well qualified for the post, calling him a “straight-shooter.”
Phipps said he was resigning because of a series of family medical misfortunes.

“We’ve had a couple of family medical issues come up,” Phipps said prior to the Town Council meeting. “It’s unfortunate, but I’ve got to take care of the families.”
Phipps said his mother, who lives in Pittsburgh, recently had a stroke, for example, so Phipps and his sister will be frequently traveling there to assist her.
He and his wife also plan to move to Charlottesville, to be closer to his wife’s mother and because his wife has been having problems driving to her Charlottesville job at night because of poor vision.
Phipps had been mayor seven of his 11 years on the Town Council.
Of his accomplishments, Phipps said he’s proud of the council’s ongoing work to complete streetscape beautification projects in the area. The projects include adding new trees and streetlamps and burying power lines.

Construction of the Scottsville Farmers Market was also a major achievement, Phipps said.
Phipps, 52, said he doesn’t know whether he’ll seek political office in the future but plans to work with local volunteer organizations.
Phipps said his departing hope for Scottsville is that residents become more engaged in the community.
“I encourage people to get involved,” Phipps said.

Town Council members appointed Jeannette Ker-lin the new vice mayor and plan to appoint a new member to fill the vacant seat within a month. Any town resident interested in the post should send a letter of intent to by Oct. 9.