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WGBPA prez challenges association elections
Dot Cohen says the list of nominees wasn't properly filed
By Michele Leung
The existing executive board of the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association has challenged its nominating committee's intent to hold an annual meeting and elections on Feb. 29.
The nominating committee, made up of John Karamanos, Chris Carris and Bob Waligore, has put together a slate of candidates for the executive committee for 2000-2001, and sent a letter to all merchants informing them of the meeting and the election. However, Dot Cohen, president of the association, does not recognize Feb. 29 as the election day. "It's the executive board that arranges the meeting. We go by the bylaws," she says.
"Not one member of the nominating committee is part of the executive board. It's a simple procedure that wasn't followed," adds Jeannie Caton, first vice president.
But Waligore disagrees with Cohen's call. "There's nothing in the bylaws that says the president has the right to say 'I get to decide the meeting,' " he says.
The president also feels the list of candidates was not properly filed. According to the association bylaws, the nominating committee must let the executive committee know of the slate either at the monthly general meeting, give it to an officer who will present it at the executive meeting, or drop it off in the office.
Cohen canceled the February general meeting but met with her board that month. She is proposing to hold the annual meeting within three weeks but no date has been set yet. It will be a breakfast meeting, with additional association business other than the election. "We review the year. In the annual meeting, officers are elected, but there are other things that happen," she says.
According to the nominating committee, the official bylaws state that the elections must be held in February and the seating in March, and they intend to have the election go forth. Timing is the issue at hand. "The outgoing executive committee has done nothing to prepare for Dancing on the Avenue and Founders Day," says Waligore. WGBPA needs to get appropriate papers filed for funding and permits and needs to coordinate with bands and other organizations that want to participate in the summer events.
Caton and Cohen say that traditionally, the election is a voice vote. In the past, there has only been one candidate for each position, so a written vote was not required.
However, Carris opposes the voice vote and prefers a secret written ballot. "Most people can't make that type of [morning] meeting," he says.
Another issue of contention is the question of the business manager. The executive board has made a temporary compromise with the hiring of Ed Thomas, who will be a consultant for four months. Thomas also works as the executive director of the Lions' Blind Center in San Jose and has experience as a nonprofit business manager with downtown associations in Carmel and Los Altos. "My purpose is to advise the new board," he says.
The election that the nominating committee has put forth is scheduled at the Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Company. Voting will take place from 11:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
