Portola Valley Notes: Decision on town staff quarters delayed Portola Valley Notes: Decision on town staff quarters delayed (February 04, 2004)

By David Boyce

Almanac Staff Writer

An attempt at frugality appears to have been for naught as the Portola Valley Town Council and staff wrestle with the logistics of moving the staff members from their current office -- a set of aged school buildings, parts of which straddle an earthquake fault -- to a temporary structure while new offices are built.

The five-member council voted 3-1 to delay acting on a proposal by Town Administrator Angela Howard to spend at least $247,000 on a new temporary building. The town had set aside about $130,000 for a used structure, but the idea was nixed when the manufacturer cautioned that it could come apart in an earthquake, Ms. Howard said at the January 28 council meeting.

The vote -- with Mayor George Comstock absent and Councilman Steve Toben voting in favor of the proposal -- puts off the decision on paying for a new building until more details are available.

The structure can be taken apart and resold when the new offices are completed in two to three years.

The costs reflect expenses of about $95,000 for site preparation, construction and moving. The site said to be the best choice, given the set-up costs, is between the softball field and the Historic Schoolhouse at the Town Center at 765 Portola Road.

But this site is problematic in that construction there would normally require a variance from the zoning ordinance since it is too close to a nearby earthquake fault. The town can legally exempt itself from this requirement, however.

Councilman Richard Merk would have none of it. "It's a bad precedent and a very, very bad statement to the people in this town for us to say 'You have to do this and we don't,'" Mr. Merk said. "I think it's premature to make this decision tonight."
Council adopts staff recognition award

Working for the town of Portola Valley may soon be a bit better if the Town Council enacts a proposed years-of-service award program.

At its January 28 meeting, the council agreed in principle to a draft policy that would recognize an employee's anniversary every five years with a "some-expenses-paid" day off.

Under the plan, at the first five-year anniversary the employee would be reimbursed for up to $50 of the day's expenses, plus tax. This number would rise in $50 increments to a maximum of $200 for 20 years.

The idea for the program came from the team-building workshop attended by town staff last year, said Town Administrator Angela Howard.

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