HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/03/1990 (2) Minutes of an Adjourned Regular Meeting
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Meeting
Wednesday, January 3, 1990, 6:00 P.M.
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road
Mayor Casey called the Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:00
p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall.
1. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Casey and Councilmembers Johnson, Siegel, and Tryon and
van Tamelen
Staff: City Manager Thomas Frutchey; City Attorney Frank Gillio; and City Clerk
Pat Dowd
Press: None
2. CITY ATTORNEY SERVICES
A discussion was held which included what services were currently provided by the
City Attorney, what the Council was looking for in a new City Attorney and what
process would be followed in the hiring of a new attorney.
Frank Gillio, City Attorney, provided Council with a packet of information which
induded his current contract and other background information on the services he
provided. He noted that he was currently working on a salary survey and statistical
information on the number of hours he spent on Town business. He stated that he
would be sending these materials to the Council in the near future. The discussion
also included the pros and cons of a small law office vs. a large firm and emphasis was
placed on the importance of backup legal assistance being available to the Town.
Council also discussed the importance of compatibility, experience, expertise and
commitment. They stated their preference for someone who would provide them
with comprehensive briefs and prompt responses to questions; and someone who had
experience with other cities (familiarity with such issues as cable tv, zoning, etc.).
Availability, consistency and backup and a willingness to learn about the Town were
January 3, 1990
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mentioned as issues to be seriously considered in hiring a new City Attorney.
The City Manager then recommended the following schedule and process. The end of
this week letters would be sent to certain attorneys and firms who were thought to be
interested, calls would be made and advertisements would be placed in the local law
journals of Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda Counties. It was also suggested that
the City Attorney's Department of the League of California Cities be contacted as a
possible source of references. Applicants would be given approximately two weeks to
respond after which they would be screened by a panel including the City Manager ,
the City Attorney and one other person (outside of the Town and preferably from a
small city). The final stage would be the interview of three or four candidates by the
City Council. It was agreed that special Council Meetings for these interviews would
be scheduled for 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14 and Thursday, February
15. It was also agreed that after the interviews on the 15th a closed session would be
held to discuss the next step. Council requested that in addition to resumes and
references, the applicants be asked to include a cover letter stating their interest and
reasons for applying for the position. The Mayor noted that she believed it was
important for the City Attorney to be present at Planning Commission Meetings but
others commented on the cost and suggested that the City Attorney be available to
attend the Commission Meetings for certain issues.
3. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further new or old business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at
7:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Dowd
City Clerk
January 3, 1990
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