HOME ABOUT HELENA COMMUNITY DEPARTMENTS GOVERNMENT CONTACT US 65°F City Council The City of Helena operates under a Mayor-Council form of government. This form of government most closely resembles the private sector with the Mayor serving as the Chief Executive Officer and the Council as the Board of Directors. The Mayor and City Council Members are elected at-large for four-year terms. The City Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. City Council Member - Place 1, Council President Pro Tempore Leigh Hulsey Email: auhulsey@gmail.com Leigh Hulsey was first elected to Helena City Council in 2008 and then again in 2012. She was elected by her council peers to serve as the President Pro Tempore during the current term. Mrs. Hulsey is originally from Pelham, Alabama but has lived in Helena for 12 years. She has been married to Dennis Hulsey for 18 years and has three children, Bradon, Cade and Riley-Kate. She and her husband are members at Church of the Highlands. Leigh is a graduate of Auburn University and is an owner/coach at CrossFit Alabaster. Their gym proudly supports all the Helena schools and even trains several of our city's young athletes. Hulsey is also an member of Helena Intermediate and Pelham High School PTO's. Hulsey is the appointed liaison for the Parks and Recreation Department and serves as the chairman for the Helena Parks and Recreation Committee. City Council Member - Place 2 Christopher R. VanCleave Email: cvancleave@cityofhelena.org Professional experience: Mr. VanCleave is a Senior Vice President at a Fortune 500 bank based in Birmingham and has enjoyed a career spanning over 28 years specializing on process improvement and operational excellence. He also serves as the Operations/Technology Division Associate Engagement Champion, leading the organization in training and developing managers, team leaders and influencers to maximize their team’s potential through strengths-based training efforts. Civic and other experience: Chairman, Helena Beautification Board Chairman, City of Helena’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Volunteer, Helena Christmas Parade Committee Volunteer, Helena Library Member: Alabama League of Municipalities Trustee, Educational Endowment Trust – American Rose Society Board of Directors, AGRS (American Garden Rose Selections) TV presenter & Public Speaker, Gardening & Beautification Related Topics Associate Section Editor, Southern Living Gardening Book Who’s Who Among American Bankers Having lived in Helena for over 15 years, Chris says “I am passionate about our community and want to do my part to keep Helena a great place to live, work and shop. We’ll do that by running a transparent, efficient government and by promoting balanced growth, public safety, vibrant athletic programs and schools we can all be proud of.” Mr VanCleave has two children: Christina 29 and Tyler 27. He attends Church of the Highlands. City Council Member - Place 3, City Council President Alice Lobell Email: alobell@cityofhelena.org Alice Lobell, better known as Ms. Alice to many Helena residents, is a life long educator and artist. She is proud and honored to serve in Place 3 on the Helena City Council. Alice has a B.A. In Art Education from Harding University; graduated Magna Cum Laude from George Washington University in Washington, DC, with a master’s degree in Higher Education and Human Development; and has a master’s degree in Art Education from the University of Montevallo, where she received the Outstanding Graduate Award. Alice is a graduate of Leadership Shelby County, class of 2019. This 9-month long intensive program invites community leaders to learn more about Shelby County and to become familiar with the County’s operations and various departments. Members are challenged to serve in a leadership role, using their efforts to support and enhance the growth and development of Shelby County. In July, 2019, Alice was honored to be asked to serve on the Leadership Shelby County alumni board. As the first art teacher at Helena Elementary School, Alice developed the art program into a creative and educational environment that impacted the lives of Helena students for 2 generations. The annual HES art show and sale, created by Alice, boasted as being the town’s largest art show where all her students were contributing artists. Alice’s community involvement includes working with various Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups in the area, conducting classes and workshops, and helping them complete requirements for any and all art related badges. Alice has been a member of the Helena Christmas parade committee for more than 28 years. An avid supporter of Helena athletics, Alice attends as many sporting events as possible, cheering for all the young athletes that she considers to be “her kids”. “My deep love for this community is why I decided to get into city government. It is a privilege and honor to be a member of Helena City Council”. Alice’s immediate family also call Helena home. Her son, Jonathan Hollabaugh, his wife, Brook, and their two children, Madison and Riley all love being part of the Helena community. Alice is the council liaison for the Helena Teen Council, liaison for the Helena Arts Council, council liaison for the Helena Fire Department and will continue to work with the Christmas parade committee. City Council Member - Place 4 Laura Joseph Email: ljoseph@cityofhelena.org Laura Joseph was elected to the Helena City Council in 2016, and is currently serving her second term in office. Business and Education Mrs. Joseph earned her degree in Communications from the University of Alabama's College of Communication and Information Sciences in 2001, with a concentration in advertising and a minor in studio art. She is currently employed by Central State Bank as Director of Marketing. Mrs. Joseph has completed all of the basic requirements of the Alabama League of Municipalities Certified Municipal Official program, a voluntary certification program for elected officials who wish to receive training in municipal government. Mrs. Joseph is working to complete the required elective hours to achieve the program's CMO certification by the completion of the current term. Mrs. Joseph is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Shelby County, a 9-month program which invites government, business, civic and community leaders to take a comprehensive look at Shelby County, and what it takes to make it operate, grow, and prosper. She currently serves on the Leadership Shelby County Board of Directors and the LSC Marketing Committee. Mrs. Joseph is also a 2014 graduate of the YourTown Alabama program, a 2-day workshop which focuses on the role of design in community planning. The workshop's course material addresses a range of issues in rural community planning, with special emphasis on organizing, recruiting, and strategically developing community and economic development, while retaining the elements that make a small town special. Boards & Memberships City of Helena Planning & Zoning Commission, Member and City Council Liaison Jane B. Holmes Public Library Board, City Council Liaison Helena HOTboard, City Council Liaison Helena’s Buck Creek Festival, Vice Chairman Leadership Shelby County - Board of Directors, Marketing Committee Shelby County Big Brothers/Big Sisters - Board Member Shelby County Republican Party - Zone 6 (Helena/Maylene) Director Alabama Republican Party - Executive Committee Member, 2013-current Family Laura and her husband T.J. (Engineering Manager of Manufacturing at Fitz-Thors Engineering), have been married 10+ years, and have two children: Anna Kate and John Marshall. Both children attend Helena's public schools and are involved in Helena's rec league and school sports programs. The family lives in the Old Cahaba neighborhood and attends Riverchase United Methodist Church, where Laura teaches the 4 year old Sunday School class. City Council Member - Place 5 Hewy Woodman Email: Hwoodman@cityofhelena.org Harold Hewy Woodman lives in Old Cahaba with his wife and three children. His wife is science teacher at Evangel Classical School. His son is a Helena Eagle Scout who attends UAB in their engineering program. His oldest daughter attends Huntingdon College in the biology program and is a Silver award winner in the Helena Girl Scouts. His youngest daughter is a former Helena Belle who attends UAB, and was recently awarded the Girl Scouts Gold Star award. Hewy has law degree and works in the Technology department at Blue Cross. He is a Certified Alabama Planning and Zoning Official. He was also award best blog in Shelby County for No Sleep in Helena. Other Helena membership and Service : Helena History Preservation Board of Directors Old Cahaba HOA 2010-2012 Friends of the Helena Library Helena Athletic Association Helena Farmer Market Committee 2009-Current Buck Creek Festival 2010-2013 Helena US Census Committee 2010 Helena Soccer Coach 2006-2008 Sunday School Teacher 2004-2009 Writer for a No Sleep in Helena community news blog Contact Information City Hall 816 Highway 52 East, Helena, Alabama 35080 Phone: (205) 663-2161 Fax: (205) 663-9276 Office Hours Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm © 2021 Designed & Hosted by Town Web | Accessibility | Privacy Policy