Important deadlines and 2021 Board voting information:
PHNA 2020 Board has approved the uncontested slate of nominated officers for 2021. Now, the membership votes! The officers' election will occur Nov 18, 2020 at 7 pm via Zoom. Scroll down for more details about the slate, backgrounds, and roles/responsibilities.
PHNA 2021 Officers Voting Procedures:
To vote during the meeting:
Register now for the Zoom meeting on Nov 18 at 7 pm ET. Registration is required to attend this meeting. The invite to this Zoom meeting is different, as it is a manual review of attendees to ensure they are authorized to participate and vote. That takes time, and as such, the board encourages you to register as soon as possible.Floor nominations: 2 minutes will be allocated for each contested nominated candidate
Election of new board members:
Currently uncontested slate (Board term starts Jan 1, 2021)
Zoom Polling Method will be used to vote for each position.
The Poll is designed for up to 3 theoretical floor nominations at the meeting for each of the 6 positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, NPU Rep, Land Use Chair
Polling for contested candidates (may need to be done by raised hand count)
Absentee Voting - MUST be received in writing by Wednesday Nov 18 at 9 am ET — see below!
Can't make it to the meeting?
Please use this NEW ABSENTEE BALLOT or submit a proxy form in writing (handwritten or by email) along with proof of residency/verification to a current PHNA Board member or to ponceyhighlandna@gmail.com by:
November 18, 2020 at 9:00 am ETThe Board has extended the deadline to receive Absentee ballots to Wednesday Nov 18 at 9:00 am ET (was formerly Nov 17, 6 pm).
You can reply to this email with your absentee ballot and verification.
You may also give your Absentee ballot to a current board member by the above date/time. They will need your ID or know you to verify you are a member. The current PHNA board members are Jerry Finegold, Linda Kay, Tatajna Romanko, Heather Prado, and Lisa Malaney.
Proxy votes can be submitted at the meeting. It would help expedite the meeting to email the proxies in advance if you intend to submit proxy votes.
In person voting will take place at the Zoom meeting per above.
Note: Two (2) absentees were received with old ballots from last email — these members have been individually contacted to submit using the new ballot. The forms in this email (and updated on ponceyhighland.org) are the only forms that PHNA will recognize for voting purposes.
Who can vote? Any Poncey-Highland resident (property owner or tenant), non-resident property owner, commercial property owner, or business owner is eligible to vote on all issues brought before the association (except land use issues). Learn more at the bottom of this page.
[Prior Update] November 6, 2020:
The PHNA nominating committee is delighted to present the following slate of nominees for the 2021 PHNA Board of Directors. Our sincere thanks to all of them for their commitment to and support of the Poncey Highland Neighborhood Association. The entire slate is running without opposition.
Erika Heller - President
Ward Binns - Vice President
Andrea Zern - Secretary
Nick Pastore - Treasurer
Lenore Carroll - NPU Representative
Lianne Deren - Land Use Chair
We are happy to share the following bios of the six nominees:
Erika Heller
For: 2021 President
I live with my husband, Justin, and our Bullmastiff, Chloe, on Williams Mill Road. I have been a part of the Poncey-Highland community for 15 years, since purchasing the land on which my husband and I built our home.
In addition to supporting many of our neighborhood initiatives over the past 15 years, I served for 5 of them as President of the Poncey-Highland Security Patrol, from 2009 - 2014.
I am employed at Colliers International, where I have been a Senior Vice President of Real Estate Management Services since 2005, and am on the Board of Directors of the largest Community Improvement District in the state, the Gateway 85 CID, where I have served since 2006.
I have chosen to run for President of the PHNA Board because my combined experiences as the Poncey-Highland Security Patrol President, a departmental leader at Colliers, and a board member with the Gateway 85 CID, position me to lead the PHNA Board and ensure the Board successfully fulfills its principal duty of service to our neighbors and community.
Ward Binns
For: 2021 Vice President
I have lived on Linwood Avenue for 18 years. I'm married to Wendy and we have one son, Daniel, who is 10 years old. Wendy and I added a second story to our house in 2008, and renovated our garage and relandscaped our backyard in 2016.
I have participated in numerous Poncey-Highland volunteer events, but never held office. I have been a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlanta for 12 years and volunteer with the Decatur Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Project each year.
I am the owner of AirTight Design, a web development company located in Old Fourth Ward.
I want to serve as vice president of PHNA so that I can help the neighborhood come together after a contentious 2020. I hope to lead projects that will raise funds for our depleted [PHNA] savings account, enhance the safety and beauty of our neighborhood, and improve communications among residents.
Lenore Carroll
For: 2021 NPU Representative
My name is on the slate for the NPU-N representative for PHNA. I am excited about this role because I believe in the Neighborhood Planning Unit system and know that it is a powerful means for the residents of Poncey-Highland to participate in the functions of City government. When issues related to zoning, land use, or other planning related matters arise, the NPU system allows for community input. I have a masters degree in urban planning and have long been a proponent of citizen participation in the planning process so that our built environment fosters a dynamic, functional and interesting place to live.
Being the NPU-N representative means that I will attend monthly meetings on behalf of our neighborhood and take issues that concern Poncey-Highland and report back developments that include all the neighborhoods in NPU-N. I will also attend the monthly PHNA Board and membership meetings. Lots of meetings! But, I am up for the task.
Lastly, I anticipate working together will all the PHNA Board members to plan neighborhood events for fundraising, social time (safely), community service and whatever else the Board dreams up for a great year in Poncey-Highland!
Thank you for your support. I look forward to serving this community that I love.
Andrea Zern
For: 2021 Secretary
Hi Neighbors! My family and I have lived in Poncey-Highland since June 2004. My husband, John Zern, and I are transplants from Indianapolis, IN and initially landed in East Atlanta in 2002. However, we quickly fell in love with Poncey-Highland for its rich history as well as proximity and walkability to multiple surrounding neighborhoods. (This was long before the Beltline's existence.) John and I also quickly discovered the wonderful, authentic human connections that Poncey-Highland had to offer. In 2010, when our family of four outgrew our home on Ralph McGill Blvd., we began the search for a new home; remaining in Poncey-Highland became a top priority! We were fortunate to find a historic home around the corner on Linwood Avenue and have been Linwood residents since 2011.
In addition to the wonderful neighbors, local businesses, beautiful homes and park land, our unique, special neighborhood is also blessed to have such a wonderful elementary school, Springdale Park Elementary (SPARK) within walking distance. Both of our boys attended SPARK and I spent MANY volunteer hours on campus. Although family and work commitments have prevented me from serving on the PHNA Board in the past, I believe the time is right for me to expand my volunteer efforts. I now have the ability to successfully commit to the Board while also fulfilling my family and work responsibilities at home.
I have dedicated many volunteer hours to my boys' preschool and elementary schools and would welcome the opportunity to now serve the Poncey-Highland community in the role of Secretary of the PHNA. Poncey-Highland has given us so much; I am ready and willing to give back. Thank you for your consideration.
Lianne Epstein Deren
For: 2021 Land Use Chair
I’m a self-employed, licensed architect and artist, and 22 year Poncey-Highland resident. I moved to Poncey-Highland in 1998, living for 4 years on Bonaventure before moving to the townhomes on Park Village Drive. My husband and I have been on Park Village now for 18 years, along with our daughter who is in 3rd grade at SPARK, and our son who is in 6th grade at Howard.
Although I have been in Poncey-Highland for many years, I only began to really engage with PHNA in the fall of 2019. For years, I had been following the growth of the city and issues around affordability, density, walkability and good urbanism. The proposed Historic District really caught my attention, along with the proposed developments at the Moe’s and Rite Aid sites, and I began to regularly attend the PHNA community meetings for the Historic District, Special Developments, and the General Monthly Meetings. By November 2019, I had been invited to join the Land Use Committee. Since the approval of the Poncey-Highland Historic District in September, I have been appointed as the contact person for the Poncey-Highland Historic District Sub-Committee within the Land Use Committee.
As the 2021 Land Use Chair, I would look forward to continuing to engage with the committee, neighborhood, and city regarding land use and development issues pertinent to Poncey-Highland, and participating as a member of the PHNA Board.
Additional Information:
Master of Architecture, Tulane University – New Orleans, LA
Principal/Owner - LME Art + Design
Current Board Member, Star-C Programs - local non-profit focusing on reducing resident transiency in affordable housing communities and nearby schools by providing after school programs, community gardens, health/wellness programs, and eviction relief.
Current Member, Congress for the New Urbanism
Current Board Member, Park Village Home Owners Association
Current Member, Poncey-Highland Community Garden
Former Board Member & Committee Co-Chair, Inman Park Cooperative Preschool
Former Parent Representative, SPARK Wellness Committee
Advocate for children’s play
Nick Pastore
For: 2021 Treasurer
I am excited to be a nominee for Treasurer of the PHNA for 2021. I moved to Belgrade Avenue and have lived in Poncey Highland since 2014. I love living in Poncey Highland because of its diversity, walkability, accessibility to parks and the Beltline, local bars & restaurants.... and most importantly, my neighbors.
I joined PHNA in 2014 and have spent time as a neighborhood block captain and volunteer for the Peachy Clean Poncey (to help keep our neighborhood beautiful!). I am interested in serving on the board because I care deeply about our neighborhood. I believe that it's important that all of our residents have a voice in the governance of our neighborhood. This is where I've put down roots with my young family and hope to stay for a long, long time.
I have a strong background in finance and accounting, having earned my MBA and worked in various finance roles at Delta Air Lines, HD Supply, UBS Investment Bank, and J.M. Huber. I know I can capably fill the role as Treasurer to help serve the board and our community.
Voting: PHNA Board of Directors
The election of 2021 Board of Directors will be held on Wednesday, November 18th at 7 pm on Zoom.
The process will be as follows:
The positions are President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, NPU-N Representative, and Land Use Committee Chairperson.
Any Poncey-Highland member may nominate someone else or themselves for these positions. Anyone nominated must be a full-time resident of Poncey-Highland and give consent to having their name included in the list of candidates.
Please submit any nominations to the nominating committee at PHNAnom@gmail.com by November 6. Be sure to include the nominee’s contact information.
If you have questions about the nominating process, please send those to PHNAnom@gmail.com
The Nominating Committee composed of former PHNA Presidents Lenore Carroll, Jim McMahel, Bob Kay, Rob Brawner, Beth McDonald, John O’Brian and Cathi Barlow will provide the neighborhood the names of its recommended candidates and all additional nominees prior to the November 18th meeting.
PHNA will provide the neighborhood the names of ALL nominees and the names of its recommended candidates prior to the November 18th meeting.
On Nov 18, at the Nov General Meeting (on Zoom) the neighborhood will vote on the slate. PH members may also nominate candidates at the Nov 18 meeting prior to the vote. Please sign up for and check your latest PHNA monthly email for more info!
Board of Directors Position Descriptions
President: Sets the board vision and agenda, is the official spokesperson for the board, is an authorized signatory on financial accounts. Please see page 7 of the PHNA bylaws for the full position description.
Vice President: Assumes the duties of the President when the president is not available. Helps the president carry their workload.
Treasurer: Serves as the second signatory on PHNA's financial accounts. Issues payments, makes deposits, prepares the annual budget draft for approval by the board.
Secretary: Take minutes at board meetings and community meetings; issues them to the appropriate audience in a timely manner.
Land Use Chair: With the land use committee, review and make recommendations on all variance requests, special exceptions, rezoning applications, special administrative permits, and land-use proposals, including liquor licenses. Communicate with city planners as needed. Represent PHNA at NPU-N (City of Atlanta’s Neighborhood Planning Unit) meetings when NPU-chair is not available. Attend relevant BZA and ZRB meetings to advocate for PHNA and NPU-N decisions. Monitor the development of public policies related to planning in the city that might impact the neighborhood. Promote implementation of the Poncey-Highland Master Plan. Prior experience on land use committee required.
NPU-N Representative: Serves as the official channel between Poncey-Highland and the NPU-N (City of Atlanta’s Neighborhood Planning Unit) by attending monthly NPU-N meetings to share our feedback on Land Use Applications and bringing back communications shared at monthly meetings to inform PHNA.
PHNA By-Laws: Membership and Voting
3.1 Membership. Membership shall be granted to individuals and business entities that demonstrate proof of meeting one of the Categories of Membership outlined in Section 3.2. No individual or business entity may hold more than one membership. All members or their representatives must be 18 years of age or older. 3.2 Categories of Members. There shall be four categories of membership: • Category 1: An individual residing within the boundaries as described in Section 2.5 (“Residents”); • Category 2: An individual who is not a Resident, but who owns residential property within the boundaries as described in Section 2.5; • Category 3: A business operating within the boundaries described in Section 2.5. The business must appoint a representative, for example the business’ manager, to attend meetings and to vote on behalf of the business. • Category 4: Owners of commercial property within the boundaries described in Section 2.5. 3.3
3.5 Required proof for membership eligibility. When requested and upon reasonable notice, members must submit proof in one of the following manners: • A utility bill not older than one month from the date of presentation that shows an address within the neighborhood boundaries as defined in section 2.5, and the name on the bill matches the name on the individual’s driver’s license; Page 3 of 11 Last amended September 2017 • A bank statement no older than one month from the date of presentation that shows an address within the neighborhood boundaries as defined in section 2.5, and the name on the bill matches the name on the individual’s driver’s license; • A bill no older than one month from the date of presentation from a national or regional entity that shows an address within the neighborhood boundaries as defined in section 2.5, and the name on the bill matches the name on the individual’s driver’s license; • A copy of a lease or mortgage statement no older than one month from the date of presentation that shows an address within the neighborhood boundaries as defined in section 2.5, and the name on the document matches the name on the individual’s driver’s license; • Alternate methods as approved by the board from time to time, in the exercise of the board’s discretion.
6.1 Voting Privileges. Any person who is a current Category 1 member of the Association is eligible to vote on all issues brought before the association. Any person who is a current Category 2, 3, or 4 member is eligible to vote on all issues brought before the association except zoning related issues. A membership allows one vote. All votes must be made by each member in person or by Page 4 of 11 Last amended September 2017 absentee ballot. Absentee voting is permitted but must be in writing and given to any member of the Board of Directors prior to the meeting at which the vote will be taken.
Vote will be held on Wednesday, November 18th @ 7pm at the November Monthly General Meeting which will be held via Zoom.