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New mayor wants to boost technology, public access
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By Barbara Wood and Renee Batti
N ATH ERTO N
B
ill Widmer, who was the in an interview top vote-getter when he after the meetwas elected to his first ing. “I’d like to term on Atherton’s City Coun- move as quickcil a little over a year ago, was ly as we can,” appointed mayor Dec. 21 by he said. “I’d his fellow council members. like to bring in Elizabeth Lewis was named vice a search firm Bill Widmer mayor. and start lookBoth received the unanimous ing at candivotes of their fellow council dates” after the council formally members. approves such a move. It was Mr. Widmer who “It’s important that we get nominated Ms. Lewis as vice started — we can’t keep kickmayor, but only after saying he ing the can down the road,” he had been lobbied to nominate said. someone else. “I think there’s Mayor Widmer’s ideal candia situation with fairness and date would be “somebody who’s I think there’s also a situation got city government experience, with effectiveness,” he said. “I but I’d like (him or her to have) think I’ve come down on fair- some business experience as ness.” well,” he said, adding that the Mayor Widmer, who served town “is a services business.” the past year as vice mayor, Other management positions said he has being held by several goals interim staff for the year, are those of the ‘It needs to be a year including trypolice chief, the of settling things down.’ finance direcing to replace the tow n’s tor, and the COUNCILMAN B ILL WIDMER many interim public works employees with director. permanent Mayor Widones. “It needs to be a year of mer also said he wants to make settling things down,” he said. good on his campaign commit“We need to pay more attention ments to improve citizen parto detail in our operations.” ticipation and access to inforInterim staff members include mation through technology. He the top decision-maker in Town told the Almanac that he will Hall: John Danielson, whose explore webcasting, possibly tenure as interim city manager even televising, council and began Jan. 3 of last year, and committee meetings. Another whose contract will expire Jan. technology he wants to look at is 2. one in which residents can “dial Because the town has yet in” during a meeting to speak to conduct a search for a new from a remote location. manager, the council finds itself During the Dec. 21 meeting, in a difficult position: Mr. Dan- Mayor Widmer promised to ielson, a retired city manager work at “improving our openof Elk Grove, cannot continue ness to the public.” He said he receiving his pension if he works might try to hold council meetmore than one year for Atherton ings in non-traditional locabecause of a California Public tions. He later said that Menlo Employees’ Retirement System College has offered its audito(CalPERS) rule. But the coun- rium for meetings, and he also cil, clearly happy with the job wants to look at high school and Mr. Danielson has done over elementary school campuses as the past year, wants to keep him other options. around until a new manager is Meeting at other venues might hired. provide better access and a At its Dec. 21 meeting, the friendlier environment for resicouncil approved sending an dents, which would encourage urgent letter to CalPERS asking more attendance, he said. for an exemption from the rule, Mr. Widmer has lived in in the hope that Mr. Danielson Atherton since 1996. He works could continue in the job for up for France Telecom’s Orange to another year. The town had Business Services as a deputy yet to learn of CalPERS’ decision vice president and has an underby the Almanac’s press time. graduate degree in computer If CalPERS approves the science as well as a master’s request, Mr. Widmer hopes a degree in business administranew manager will be hired well tion from Texas Christian Unibefore the year’s end, he said versity. A
6 N The Almanac N January 4, 2012