WPOA Nominating Committee Reports Results
The Western Property Owners Association Nominating Committee met on February 26, 2018 and nominated Gerry Kelly for President, RoseAnn Vernice for Vice President, Joe Ra for Secretary, Arnold Finamore for Treasurer, and Nick Vernice and Michael Fonseca for Director positions.
Joe Ra, a resident of the Western Section since 2011, attended St. Anne’s School and St. John’s University, receiving his BA degree in Criminal Justice in 2004, and an M.P.S. in Criminal Justice Leadership in 2008. Mr. Ra works at the Nassau County Board of Elections and also has experience in the Chief Clerk’s Office at the New York State Unified Court System. Joe has also worked part-time for the Franklin Square Water District (2010-15). Joe and his wife, Giovanna, have two young sons and look forward to raising their children in Garden City. Joe has an interest in government, and volunteered to serve as Secretary of the WPOA in 2017.
Mike Fonseca moved to Garden City in 2016 and became immediately involved in their Garden City community when he and his wife, Lauren, saw a need for additional stop signs at Roosevelt Street and Salisbury Drive. The Fonseca family and their neighbors came to the WPOA for assistance, and the Village Traffic Commission approved the additional stop signs. Joe has a financial background; he attended SUNY Purchase, receiving a BA in Literature with a Minor in Economics, and Columbia University’s post baccalaureate Business Program. He currently works for Virtu Financial in Manhattan, where he is Head of Securities Lending. In addition to finances, Joe, the father of two young daughters, has an interest in libraries and library programming, as well as seeing that the Village of Garden City has safe parks for children.
In 2016, the WPOA passed new procedures to cover the nomination and election of Trustees, School Board representatives as well as Officers and Directors. The rules for the WPOA are as follows:
Any fifteen (15) Voting members of the Association may, at any time, not later than twenty (20) days prior to the succeeding annual meeting, nominate any person or persons in opposition to any of the candidates nominated on the regular ticket by filing with the Secretary, a petition over their signatures, which notice shall include the address of each signatory, showing their nomination of such opposition candidate or candidates with a brief background. It shall then be the duty of the Secretary to mail each resident, at least ten (10) days prior to said succeeding annual meeting a copy of the nominations so made. No additional nominations will be accepted at the annual meeting, at which time, the vote for officer and directors will take place.
The Annual Meeting for the election of Officers and Directors will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 7:30 PM at Homestead School. The WPOA appreciates the work of our nominating committee: Maureen Dellacona, chair; Rich Vallely, Tommy Rivera, Maureen Lyons, Karen Reiter and JoEllen Flannigan. For any additional information please contact Gerry Kelly at 302-547-0800 or gerry7th@gmail.com
