POLAND — During a light village council agenda last week, a vacant council seat was filled and two other board seats now need filled.

Rebecca Rudzik took the oath of office from Mayor Tim Sicafuse and will finish out the remainder of the term formerly held by Samuel Moffie, who stepped down following the election so that Rudzik could step into his position now instead of waiting until January to take the office. Council President Michael Thompson said Rudzik was the only candidate.

“Anyone interested in serving the remainder of the council seat had until Monday (Nov. 17) to send a letter of interest,” Thompson said. “We had no other candidates, so Becky was sworn in on the spot by the mayor. She immediately took the seat.”

He said Rudzik will be sworn in again in January to fulfill her four-year elected term.

Rudzik said she looks forward to getting up to speed on the big issues such as the Sheridan Road project and the Poland Library.

“To be fair, I had a lot of pokers in the fire, so I am not fully up on the library,” she said, “but it sounds like it will stay where it is. We have a beautiful building, the nicest library in Mahoning County. I cannot imagine seeing that sit empty. As a member of village council, I will do everything in my power to help steer the library board into keeping our library where it is, where it belongs.”

Rudzik’s election to council will leave two other seats vacant. Sicafuse said she served as the citizen member of the Poland Village Board of Zoning Appeals for nearly 10 years and is in her third term as the village’s citizen member of the Western Reserve Joint Fire District.

“She will have to give up both seats and we will have to find replacements,” Sicafuse said.

He said anyone interested in either board should send a letter of interest to the Village Hall or drop it off. The two positions are appointed by the council members and could be filled next month.

Rudzik said she will stay involved in other things such as the Historic Homes Tour.

“My house is on the 2026 tour,” she said. “It is also part of a class walking tour.”

She said there is a playhouse on her property that was built in the late 1800s or early 1900s. She had it rebuilt for her own children and several years ago a class of young children was taking a historic walking tour of Poland Village.

On a whim, Rudzik invited the whole class to see the vintage playhouse. She said it, along with other features on her property, are now on the annual student walk.

“I am not a member of the Poland Historical Society, but I am a big fan and enjoy touring anyone’s old home or building,” she said.

Rudzik also serves on the board of directors for the Youngstown Peace Race, a position she has held for about 12 years.

“I believe in service to the community,” she said. “It is easy to complain about all the things that are wrong … it is hard to be among those trying to make everything right and everyone happy.”

Rudzik said she has strong roots in the community. She is a 1989 graduate of Poland Seminary High School and is in the athletic hall of fame at PSHS for running.