Category Archives: News

2015 Candidates

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This year eleven candidates are vying for four open seats. The candidates, according to a notice posted yesterday on Sewardparkcoop.com, are:

#1 – Alvin Steinberg (candidacy withdrawn)
#2 – Erica Cullmann
#3 – Sandy Kershon
#4 – Mendy Erez
#5 – Aaron Fineman
#6 – Gus Medina (candidacy withdrawn)
#7 – Debbie Finston
#8 – Hariette Skidelsky
#9 – Doron Stember (misspelled as “Dorin” in the notice)
#10 – Laurel Hirsch
#11- Carlos Rosado

Gus and Carlos are incumbents. The other two seats are being vacated by Kate Nammacher and Paul Sobel.

Vacancy Filled and Officers Elected

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This information remains preliminary and unofficial, but we have it on good authority that John Ryan has been selected by the board to fill the vacancy that resulted from Geordan Goldstein’s removal. John previously served on the board in 2011-2012 when he was selected to fill the vacancy resulting from BIll King’s resignation.

We also are told that the following new officers have been appointed:

    • President: Kate Nammacher
    • First Vice President: Dia Shepardson
    • Second Vice President: Gus Medina
    • Treasurer: Marc Albaum
    • Assistant Treasurer: David Pass
    • Secretary: John Ryan
  • Assistant Secretary: Carlos Rosado

The Removal Referendum

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The board announced last week that this year’s annual meeting ballot will include a referendum on whether director Geordan Goldstein should be removed.

We reached out to Micah Arbisser, a shareholder who is an attorney and who offered some insight into the legality of this move on SPComm.  Micah shared a few points, noting that these comments are for informational and discussion purposes only and do not constitute legal advice:

  • Under New York State law, the board has the right to propose actions to the shareholders so long as notice requirements are met, and the shareholders of a corporation have the right to remove directors for “cause.”
  • Under our by-laws, the vote of a majority of those participating in the applicable meeting is required for the shareholders to take an action.  For example, if 800 shareholders participate in the election, 401 “yes” votes will be required for the removal to be effective.  Abstaining from the removal referendum vote is the same as voting “no.”

New Gazette

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Director Eric Mandelbaum has issued another Gazette. Like the last one, this one seems to have had a pretty limited distribution. In another highly unscientific poll, more than half of the handful of shareholders contacted by the Spark had not seen a hard copy. But unlike the last one, this one is very, very long, and directly addresses this year’s election, endorsing candidates Finston, Ramirez and Riga and attacking past directors.

Official Candidate List and First Statements

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Memos were circulated over the last week with the official candidate list, the order in which they will appear on the ballot, and their first candidate statements.

Following is the list (with links to their candidate statements on the password-protected SPC shareholder website):

Election 2013: Unofficial Candidate List

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Three seats are available in this year’s election for the Seward Park Cooperative Board of Directors.  The extended deadline for submitting candidate packages was yesterday, and the Spark has learned that the following shareholders have entered the race.

  • Marc Albaum
  • Susan Drosdofsky
  • Debbie Finston
  • David Pass
  • Norma Ramirez (incumbent)
  • Ray Riga
  • Dia Shepardson
  • Hariette Skidelsky

There are a few familiar names, and a few new names.  We look forward to learning more from the candidates in the coming weeks.