By Eliza Ridgeway

Warshawsky

Dean Warshawsky took over the reins as mayor of Los Altos Hills June 22, succeeding Councilman Breene Kerr. With the changing of the guard, the city council reviewed the big issues of 2006-2007.

Warshawsky said that when he and Kerr were elected four years ago, neither could have imagined how big the school district reform issue would become. “And it is going to outlive any one of us,” Warshawsky said. He said the council’s goal would be to bring the issue to residents for a vote.

Warshawsky outlined a revised list of town goals for his term. He will propose a financing plan for undergrounding utilities. He also suggested having the town act as project manager on engineering a plan for sewers to replace the septic systems currently used by about 50 percent of the town. Continuing to expand wireless coverage was his third priority.

“It’s just going to be nuts-and-bolts management,” Warshawsky said of his term. “We’ve done a lot in the green energy department, (which has) more of national, international focus. I want to focus on more local issues. They’re not exciting, I’m not going to win an award, but it’s what I like and what I think the town needs.”

Craig Jones was unanimously voted mayor pro tem at the same meeting.

Another priority Warshawsky set for the coming year was development of Westwing Barn.

“Let’s just step up and own it, run it and get involved,” he said.

“This last year has just been a really great year,” Kerr said. “We’ve got the pathway on Moody Road started with money from the VTA, a new town riding ring, the first year in the town hall. We’ve made incredible strides in the area of energy efficiency and encouraging solar in our community.”