Pamela Ward Bort
Background Statement: Senior Paralegal, Corporate and Public Finance, with an international law firm.
Campaign Statements: After three years on the Foundation Board, I have a much clearer sense of what the Village problems are than I did in 2008. Many of those problems have been substantially addressed and some remain to be addressed. Our financial situation has improved and improves more each year, but nevertheless requires continued Board oversight, especially in the context of the overall poor economy. The Village faces both old and new issues arising from the County Master Plan and transportation plans, while working to formulate its own Vision of the future.
Biggest Problem the Village is facing today: I prefer to think in terms of “challenges” to the Village. And, in my opinion, the biggest challenge facing the Village lies in making itself more attractive and enjoyable to both its current residents and its prospective residents, e.g., updating its amenities, retaining its “neighborly, small town” atmosphere, and working with its residents to improve the appearance and value of their property, in the context of sustainability and fiscal stability.
Endorsement: Since her election to the MVF Board in 2008 Ms. Bort has been effective as a Board and Executive Committee member. During her 3 years on the board, she successfully advocated for:
1. Financial reform emphasizing reporting transparency, clarity and accuracy and full funding of reserves;
2. Reform of the Architectural Review Board; and
3. Change in the MVF Board’s governing culture to a proactive policy role, directing and holding the professional staff accountable for implementation and results.
Ms. Bort has made substantial contributions to the Village’s progress over the past 3 years with her positive influence and visionary leadership. She receives the Montgomery Village Observer’s enthusiastic endorsement and should be re-elected.
Dennis J. Clark
Background Statement: Retired Research Engineer and Strategic Planner for the United States Navy. For 40 years I was a research engineer at the David Taylor Model basin developing advanced ships. In my last 15 years I was the Director of Strategic Planning.
Campaign Statements: While the Village is still an attractive place to live, it has fallen behind in the services and amenities it offers relative to other planned communities. As a member of the Board of Directors, I would like to be part of the effort to update the services the Village offers while keeping assessments as low as possible.
Biggest Problem the Village is facing today: In comparison to Columbia, Reston and Thomas Farm Village facilities are not keeping up. Columbia’s is always adding new facilities, new ideas, increasing the scope of activities. We should be thinking about aging in place, what we are doing to make sure people can age in place and taking care of the social and physical and emotional needs. The issue becomes can we afford it? How are other communities doing it? We should examine how we are financing our facilities.
Endorsement: Dennis’ background, work experience, long term leadership involvement with Village and community based organizations; along with his clear understanding of the Village’s past, present and future direction indicates he is a highly qualified candidate and should be elected.
Edna Miller
Background Statement: I bring a lifetime of volunteer work from non-profit community-based board of directors with experience of negotiating practical solutions for difficult problems, developed funding solutions with a limited budget, worked with staff to make difficult decisions in maintenance and restoration, researched and developed creative and practical ideas to challenging problems.
Campaign Statements: If elected, I will encourage more transparency and accountability by the Board and the Staff. I will support the Board’s effort to increasing security with better pedestrian and bike safety plans, calming the growing volume of traffic on our roads, affirming accountability in the budget process, monitoring Montgomery County’s Town Sector Zoning meetings to enable our Board to achieve a positive outcome, preserving historic structures such as the gazebos united by design, revise the 2030 vision by a review every three years to address relevant changes in law, economic times and other community developments. I will advocate for preservation of our historic elements, beautiful lakes, open landscapes, varied recreational facilities, and improving the quality of life surrounded by this natural setting as well as replace the practice of trinket capital improvements with insightful economic development.
Biggest Problem the Village is facing today: I feel that we need to work together to try and resolve our differences. There are certain things that we cannot control and I really hope that we can work together to achieve them.
Endorsement: Edna, while a relative newcomer to the Village, is an effective veteran and leader in community, non-profit and Common Interest Realty community governance. If elected, she would be the only Board member from a Village Condominium community and no doubt would be an effective addition to the Board. She deserves serious consideration.
Don O’Neill
Background Statement: I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. Following a 27-year career with IBM’s Federal Systems Division, I spent three years with Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute and I continue to serve as a visiting scientist with Carnegie Mellon.
Campaign Statements: Montgomery Village faces challenges from the County. As an experienced community activist, I have fought effectively for Montgomery Village in editorials to the Village News and Gazette and in the boardrooms of the County Council and in the successful opposition to WMMS 2 on Centerway Park. I will urge the MVF Board to commit to citizen-centric goals and adopt the means needed to achieve outcomes beneficial to all MV residents. I would like to play a leading role in representing Montgomery Village to the County and state on issues critical to the Village and its residents. I promise to work towards more effective oversight of the MVF Board of Directors.
Biggest Problem the Village is facing today: The biggest problem is the future status the Village’s signature amenity, the Montgomery Village golf course. Fortunately we’re going to be hearing a lot about it in February.
Endorsement: Don has an effective record of advocating his views and would be a presentable spokesperson for the Village to outside organizations or as a consultant. However, these qualities are normally counterproductive to the deliberations of a volunteer board of directors. The MVF board does not need a member “to work towards more effective oversight of the MVF Board of Directors.” It needs more effective oversight of the staff operations, programs and finances. Mr. O’Neill’s presence on the Foundation’s Board of Directors would most likely create more conflict than cooperation and collaboration and therefore, he is not endorsed for election to the MVF Board of Directors.
Linc Perley
Background Statement: Graduate with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Buffalo. Retired: Senior Manager-Information Technology. MVF Board Member since 2008, 1992-1999, President Whetstone Homes Corporation 2004 to present, previously served on Whetstone board in 1980’s and Patton Ridge Board in 1970’s.
Campaign Statements: I will work to maintain tight cost controls, and seek alternate sources of income to offset increasing costs. We must minimize, if not eliminate, future assessment increases. We need to modernize to compete with newer communities. I will work to enhance the perception of the “Village.” We have a wonderful community and we need to get the word out. These are important issues in improving our property values. I oppose intrusions on our
community and our environment by state and local governments such as M-83, road widening and re-zoning that negatively impacts Montgomery Village and our residents.
Biggest Problem the Village is facing today: One of the biggest problems we have is cost. Rising cost is everywhere. Each year Whetstone Homes Corporation tries to make sure reserve funds are adequate for future use and it is a real challenge. Cost and reducing the cost in the Foundation are very important.
Endorsement: Seeking alternate funding has not been successful in the past and is not a viable funding option now. Minimizing and eliminating assessment increases instead of investing in renewal, restoration and repair of our aging infrastructure is a formula for disaster. The poor perception of the “Village” is based on the failures of past boards to maintain, enhance and preserve properly the Village’s common property, facilities and amenities. The Village’s present condition is not a public relations problem that can be addressed by “getting the word out.” Mr. Perley represents the failures of the past and not the solutions of the future and should not be returned to the MVF Board of Directors.
Pete Young
Background Statement: I am currently Chief Information Officer for Rosetta Stone and previously was CIO for MedImmune. I have many years experience with strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting, capital investments, facilities planning and management of large programs and projects.
Campaign Statements: The primary reason I am seeking election to the MVF Board is to be address the strategic challenges that we face as we define the vision and needs for the Village over the next 40 to 50 years. We are currently at a point where the original vision for the Village has been realized, our 50 - year Town Sector Zoning is expiring, and our role in the County Master Plan update will be defined. I want to ensure that the Village stays relevant to both current residents and potential residents, the greater county over time, and ensure that we are able to thrive as the area changes.
Biggest Problem the Village is facing today: The biggest problem we face is relevance. Montgomery Village developed in a very different era and our competitive position within every adjacent community around us is very different than it use to be and we have a lot more competition. We are falling behind because of the obsolescence of our amenity base, the aging of our infrastructure and the lack of redevelopment. It’s important to have a vision of what we want to be and then work towards that. Upgrading our amenities, encouraging development in the Village and readdressing our zoning configuration, all of this needs to be on the table. Our position has changed dramatically in relation to all the neighboring developments around us and that’s really the biggest issue we confront.
Endorsement: Pete Young’s candidacy has introduced to the Montgomery Village community a person of exceptional background, experience and leadership qualities. Willing, able and motivated to serve, he has succinctly diagnosed the community’s chronic illnesses, has outlined a blueprint for the future, and articulated the critical urgency for visionary change and the
opportunity for action in this moment in time. Pete Young receives the Montgomery Village Observer’s highest and unconditional endorsement. He should be elected to the MVF Board.
