By Clay Lambert

Los Altos Hills

pponents of a new $5 million Town Hall planned for Los Altos Hills continue to hammer away at city council members who approved the project. Last week, dissidents resorted to virtual “drip torture.”

Two council members said they were willing to discuss a compromise plan.

Members of LAH Watchdog - the citizens’ group that grew along with the controversy over plans for the Fremont Road construction project - are sending council members regular e-mails featuring comments from respondents to their September survey. Watchdog leader Mark Breier said 94 percent of about 500 respondents voiced displeasure with the council-approved, mission-style design that more than one resident compared to a giant Taco Bell.

“That,” Breier said, “is not the suit this town should wear.”

In addition to the survey, Breier and his neighbors commissioned their own drawing of a possible new Town Hall.

The citizens’ group recently said it will drop its design proposal if the council will scrap drawings approved in July.

Any third design should focus on size, scale and an appropriate color scheme and materials, Breier said.

Councilmembers Emily Cheng and Mike O’Malley said they were willing to discuss a third plan.

Most agree that the 45-year-old building needs a replacement and the fervor built slowly.

The council, which was unanimous in planning to go forward in July, remains determined to break ground sometime early in 2003, said Mayor Bob Fenwick.