MVF Board Member Elena Peterson Steps Down

Recently elected Montgomery Village Foundation Board Member Elena Peterson stepped down from the Board after selling her house in the Village, according to a news release.

The MVF Board will hold a special election at its Thursday, June 27 meeting in order to fill the balance of Peterson’s unexpired term, which concludes at the annual MVF Board meeting in March 2016, according to the news release.

"Members of the MVF Board of Directors must be a resident of Montgomery Village or a member of the Foundation to hold a seat on the nine member volunteer board," according to the release.

In a Patch blog, MVF President Bob Hydorn addressed Peterson's vacancy with the following statement:

I think it is important to set the record straight on a number of the points that Don has just raised tonight. 

First, Elena was a member in good standing when she put her application in, was interviewed by the Nominating Committee and ran for election. Article VII, Section 1 of the MVF Bylaws states:

The business and affairs of the Foundation shall be managed by a Board of nine (9) directors, who shall be residents of the Village or Members of the Foundation. The Members shall elect annually three (3) directors, each for a term of three (3) years.

Yes, some of us including staff members, were aware that Elena was trying to sell her house, but none of us, knew when it would sell, nor did we know if she was in fact set on moving. Given Elena’s love of the Village and her involvement with Foundation committees for so many years, coupled with her service to South Village Homes Corporation, her candidacy was unquestioned. The Nominating Committee acted based on the information it had at the time and deemed her a qualified candidate for the MVF election.

Recognizing the situation, I think it is important for the Nominating Committee to consider whether the application and interview process should be changed to require potential candidates to disclose plans to change their residency in the near term.

The Nominating Committee can then evaluate this information as part of their process.

Certainly, there is always a possibility that a candidate or recently elected Board member, due to personal or business reasons, may not be able to continue either as a candidate or as a Board member. Given the current situation, I think it is appropriate for the Nominating Committee to consider this.

I’m sure there will be a lot of discussion about his matter, but I am very proud of our election process.

Per the MVF Board:

Applications for the position are available for pickup from the MVF Office, 10120 Apple Ridge Road, through Friday, June 21, or by printing from the MVF website, www.montgomeryvillage.com. A signed original of the application is due to the MVF Corporate Secretary by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 21.

Completed applications will be reviewed by the Board at the Thursday, June 27 meeting, and applicants will be given the opportunity to address the Board during the meeting. A secret ballot will be cast, and the results will be tallied and announced at the June meeting; the newly appointed member will be seated in July.

Additional special election procedures are posted above.

. A fourth candidate, Don O'Neill, ran unsuccessfully.