2024 HARPER’S CHOICE VILLAGE ELECTIONS
Current two-year terms of office for two Harper’s Choice Village Board seats and the Columbia Council Representative seat expire on April 30, 2024. Two Board of Director nomination petitions were received from Rosalind Danner and Rebecca Beall, and two Columbia Council Representative nomination petitions were received from Alan Klein and Ashley Vaughan. Per the Harper’s Choice Community Association bylaws, if the number of nominations is less than or equal to the number of vacant director positions, the qualified nominees shall be deemed to be elected by the members and the Board of Directors will appoint the nominees to the director positions. As such, there will be no election for the Board positions, only the Columbia Council Representative position. The terms of office for the three nominees will be May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2026. There will be a Meet the Candidates night (Columbia Council Representative candidates) on April 10, 2024, at Kahler Hall, 5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia, Maryland 21044 from 7 pm - 9 pm. Please email Village Manager Steve Ingley at manager@harperschoice.org if you plan on participating in Meet the Candidates’ night.
An Annual Meeting and election will be held on April 20, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. In establishing a 10 percent quorum for the holding of the Annual Meeting, if the number of members represented in person or by proxy is insufficient, another meeting may be called as authorized by Section 11B-111(6) of the Maryland Homeowners Association Act. By a majority vote, the members present, either in person or represented by proxy, may call an additional meeting which shall occur not less than fifteen days after the Annual Meeting by giving ten (10) days’ notice of the time, place, and purpose of the Continued Annual Meeting. Notice shall be by posting on the homepage of the Association’s website. Additionally, the Association shall provide notice by electronic mail to those who have signed up to receive electronic communications. At the Continued Annual Meeting, the members present either in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum and may approve the election of Board Members and Columbia Council Representative and may approve or authorize any action which could have been taken had a sufficient number of members been present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Also pursuant to Section 11B-111(6)(v), any amendments to the Association’s Bylaws shall only be effective if the 10 percent quorum in person or by proxy is achieved.
If a Continued Annual Meeting is called, it will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 from 6:45 pm to 7:00 pm. A Board-Organizational Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 p.m. Both meetings will be hybrid with the in-person location being at Kahler Hall, 5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia, Maryland 21044. For those wishing to attend the meeting(s) virtually, see the instructions below:
HCCA Annual Meeting and HCCA Board-Organizational Meeting
Tue, May 7, 2024 6:45 PM - 9:00 PM (EDT)
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
You can also dial in using your phone.
(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.)
United States: +1 (224) 501-3412
- One-touch: tel:+12245013412,,484884069#
Access Code: 484-884-069
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install
WHO MAY VOTE
Owners or renters in good standing with property in Harper’s Choice may vote. Residents with an outstanding covenant violation are prohibited from voting. Check with the Covenant Advisor to make sure your property is in compliance with the Harper’s Choice Covenants. Only one vote is permitted for each property. In the case of a rental property, both owner and tenant may cast a ballot (tenants must have a lease on file with the Association in order to vote).
WAYS TO VOTE
ELECTRONIC ABSENTEE BALLOTS: You will see a code in the upper right corner of the enclosed absentee ballot in your Harper’s Choice Voice Newsletter. Go to https://elections.intelliscaninc.net/s3/HCCA2024 before 5:00 pm on Friday, April 19, 2024, enter your code, and vote.
MAIL-IN ABSENTEE BALLOTS: Complete the absentee ballot and return it in the postage paid envelope, both of which will be found in your Harper’s Choice Voice Newsletter. Mail-in ballots are valid only if completely filled out, including all information on the back of the envelope, and are delivered to Kahler Hall by 11:59 p.m. on April 19, 2024.
IN-PERSON: Vote at Kahler Hall between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on April 20, 2024. Bring your driver’s license, BG&E bill, or something else to verify your Harper’s Choice address.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR CANDIDATES’ STATEMENTS
ROSALIND DANNER
I am Rosalind Danner, a CPA and MBA with over 40 years of finance experience. I joined the HCCA Board in April 2022 and currently serve as Assistant Treasurer. I love the vibrancy, diversity, walkability, and amenities within our village. Since joining the HCCA Board, I have:
Supported grants for elementary and middle school PTA’s.
Ensured that neighborhood entrance signs are well-maintained.
Collaborated with Harper’s Choice CARES (Community Action and Resources for Environmental Stewardship) to clean up trash and debris in the Village.
Advocated for the clean-up of CA open space in specific areas.
Engaged with representatives from the Howard County Council, Police Department, and other villages to discuss ways to improve the Village Center and enhance the shopping experience for residents.
I look forward to continuing to work alongside other Board members, volunteers, and HCCA staff to further advance Harper’s Choice as a great place to live.
REBECCA BEALL
I have had the absolute honor of serving the Village of Harper's Choice as a member of the Harper's Choice Community Association for the last several years. I am seeking the honor of continuing to serve as your representative. I grew up in Harper's Choice, and chose to raise my family in Harper's Choice. I love this village. I love the diversity and vibrancy of Harper’s Choice. While serving on the Board, I have advocated for the safety of our village, the beautification of our village, and worked to support the citizens of this village. This was a wonderful place to grow up, and a wonderful place to raise my child. I think it is important to dream of and plan for an even better neighborhood for ourselves and all our children. I want to be a part of that good work for Harper's Choice!
COLUMBIA COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATES' STATEMENTS
ASHLEY VAUGHAN
My approach to serving mirrors Columbia’s founding values; diverse and integrated community and respecting nature. I share our community’s great love of walking our beautiful winding forest paths, enjoying our parks, and traveling our scenic tree-lined roads. Columbia is full of flourishing green spaces and I will ensure CA takes the steps needed to nurture them. I will prioritize adopting sustainable, climate-conscious solutions when evaluating amenities/programs. I increased community engagement through the Millennial Advisory Committee, helping establish Midnight Mini-Golf. In 2021, I served on the CA Board after our current representative’s ethics violation and removal. I advocated for policies that empowered staff to implement changes quickly. I met with neighbors to learn more about their concerns, like invasive bamboo. I voiced objections over the board removing an effective leader and wasting $500k of our assessments. You can trust in my experience and dedication – vote for me.
ALAN KLEIN
Jim Rouse created Columbia on principles of diversity, inclusion, and social and economic justice.
CA is best positioned to provide leadership around those principles. First elected in 2014, I have been privileged to represent you on the CA Board. While much was accomplished, much remains to be done.
After a year of unfortunate turmoil, I have recently had the experience of working with a diverse group of stellar colleagues on the CA Board to bring stability and forward-thinking to CA’s governance.
Returning Symphony Woods to CA control – your control – is a top priority of mine and we are making progress.
My advocacy for you has sometimes been met with resistance. Changing the status quo is never easy. Please support me as your CA rep so we can continue to work together to protect our precious open space and recreational facilities and further our vision for a diverse and inclusive Columbia.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR YOUR
APRIL 2024 NEWSLETTER AND BALLOT!