September 18, 2024 BARTON BULLETIN VOL. LXX No. 14
Barton Hills Village 199 Barton Shore Drive Ann Arbor MI 48105
734-222-5209 fax 734-222-9177 bhvclerk@bartonhillsvillage.org www.bartonhillsvillage.org
ELECTION EDITION – CANDIDATES
There are five candidates running for five seats
on the Barton Hills Village Board of Trustees for four-year terms.
The nine-member Board of Trustees is the governing body of the Village.
Following, in alphabetical order, are the statements
the candidates submitted about
who they are and why they would like to serve on the Board.
BROOK CALABRESE – 939 Forest Road. My family and I have called Barton Hills Village home since 2021, but our appreciation for this community began even earlier through our visits as members of the Barton Hills Country Club. We were captivated by the deep lots, mature trees, steep slopes, and winding roads that define the neighborhood. These distinctive features were major factors in our decision to make this wonderful place our home, just as they have attracted so many of you.
Road safety is my top priority as I run for Trustee. As an avid walker, I have seen firsthand the issue of speeding on our roads, and it’s become increasingly concerning, especially with more families with young children moving into the neighborhood. With my own kids, ages 3 and 6, I am particularly vigilant about any activities that involve our roads, and I am aware that many other parents share my concerns about their children’s safety when walking or riding bikes and scooters. This should not be the norm, and I am committed to addressing these risks to ensure our community members feel confident about utilizing their own roads.
As a Trustee, my primary goal will be to advance the crucial issues that impact our community. Beyond enhancing safety and security and improving our roads and water infrastructure, I am committed to actively engaging with a diverse range of residents to gather their perspectives on additional Village services. By involving more members of our community in shaping the future of the Village, I aim to ensure that our neighborhood remains a safe, connected, and vibrant place for all.
DENNIS CAPOZZA – 240 Barton Shore Drive. My wife, Lisa, and I have been residents of BHV since 2007. Like most residents we love the country setting close to the city, first conceived by the successors to Frederick Olmstead at his eponymous company a century ago.
For most of my career, I have taught and researched urban land use and real estate finance at universities in North America, including USC, British Columbia, MIT, Columbia and most recently the University of Michigan where I am professor emeritus (i.e., retired).
Currently I own and manage three finance related companies in Ann Arbor. More relevant perhaps, is my recent interest in local democratic institutions including our own village. I have volunteered and served as president of a local condominium homeowners association and as the zoning administrator in BHV for the past two years. These experiences have provided insights bridging the gap between theory and practice. For example, in theory, zoning ordinances are a straightforward attempt to maximize the benefits and minimize the negative spillovers among land uses. In practice, however, implementation is constrained by the people affected and the local legal environment.
As a long-time researcher, my goal as a Trustee will be to apply a research focus to problems that arise in the Village so that we can arrive at the best possible decisions that will “right size” expenditures and amenities over the long run.
RICHARD PRAGER – 375 Barton North Drive. My wife Laurie and I have been residents of Barton Hills Village since December 2021, noting Laurie’s grandparents lived here in the 40’s and 50’s and, she is an Ann Arbor native; I have been an Ann Arbor resident since 1983. We have 5 children and 5 grandchildren.
We have enjoyed living in Barton Hills Village with its beautiful setting of trees, hills, the river and pond, and the quiet and the natural surroundings. While I recognize I am a recent resident of Barton Hills, I have the interest and the time to contribute to the evolving future of Barton Hills as a unique Village community.
I am a retired cardiac surgeon whose professional career started after 7 years of residency training at the University of Michigan, moving to my first position as faculty in Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. I returned to Ann Arbor and joined the cardiac and thoracic group at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, now Trinity, (1983-1999) where I eventually led the Cardiac and Thoracic Surgical team there, before being recruited to the University of Michigan as Section Head of Adult Cardiac Surgery. I retired in January 2022.
Recognizing the commitment, time and important evolving village goals, I understand it is imperative to hear the voices of all and facilitate important decisions for us as village members, looking to the future for everyone.
My professional experiences on Boards in the United States and in Europe have taught me the importance of listening and arriving at decisions that advance goals, and I would approach this role with the same energy, perspective and respect for the opinions of all.
Thank you for your consideration.
CARLA SMITH (Incumbent) – 767 Oakdale Road. Carla lives with her husband Jeff David, their adult daughter Serena, and her girlfriend Teresa. The family has resided in Barton Hills for nine years, and in Ann Arbor for 13 years prior. Carla has a 30+ year career in health thought leadership, most recently heading a strategic growth consultancy. As a current member of the Village Trustees, Carla puts her governance, fiscal and board management experience to use on a local level to help better our community: for instance, she served one year as President and two years as Treasurer. During her service, Carla has championed several key initiatives. For example, in 2022-23 Carla led a multi-stakeholder effort to stop MDOT from closing the M-14 Barton Drive entrance/exit ramps; instead, MDOT committed to implementing numerous safety improvement efforts to the interchange over time. She did this by creating a multi-stakeholder alliance including a very active committee of Barton Hills Village residents, the BHMC, Ann Arbor Township, the University of Michigan Medical Center, the City of Ann Arbor, State Representative Jennifer Conlin, and State Senator Sue Shink. A second example was in 2020 when Trustees appointed her Chair of the Special Roads Committee, where she worked collaboratively with Trustees and leaders of the community’s homeowners’ association to successfully ensure the private status of Barton Hills roads. Carla’s goals are to champion ongoing transparency and fiscal responsibility in all municipal work; ensure residents are both knowledgeable of, and have the opportunity to become actively engaged in, Village initiatives; and be a constructive voice in matters necessary to improve the Village’s water and municipal services infrastructure. She welcomes the opportunity to continue her public service as a Trustee.
ALICIA TORRES – 460 Hillspur Road. My professional experience as Chief Financial Officer, and past BHV Trustee and President, will allow me to make a quick and positive impact on the well being of our beloved community.
I served as a BHV Trustee from 2017 to the end of 2020, and while at times there were difficult decisions, I feel I contributed to the betterment of the community. I am interested in serving again, as I believe we still have a lot of work to do in relation to our water system and environment. I (as you do) want to ensure we continue to live in a safe and healthy environment.
I am looking forward to serving on the Barton Village Board as I (with my late husband, Frank Legacki) moved into this special community the Summer of 1999.
All election information for BHV is available from
Ann Arbor Charter Township, 3792 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor MI 48105
Website: aatwp.org, (choose elections tab) Phone: 734-663-3418