Woodside chooses new town attorney Woodside chooses new town attorney (December 22, 2004)

By Andrea Gemmet

Almanac Staff Writer

Woodside didn't go too far afield in the search for a new town attorney to replace Bob Lanzone, who is retiring after 19 years. Jean Savaree, a partner in Mr. Lanzone's San Carlos-based law firm of Aaronson, Dickerson, Cohn & Lanzone, will take over the job in January.

Ms. Savaree served as Woodside's deputy town counsel from 1985 to 1994, and is leaving her current post as Belmont's city attorney to take the Woodside job. She is also the city attorney for Foster City.

"She's very smart and very proactive with her advice," said Woodside Town Manager Susan George.

Ms. George said she has worked with Ms. Savaree on personnel and other employment issues from time to time, and that she was clearly the best candidate for the job.

Ms. Savaree was chosen by the Town Council in a special closed-session meeting on December 7, and was introduced at Woodside's annual volunteer reception, which kicked off immediately afterward.

There's no shortage of legal matters facing the town. After a brief respite from the litigation that plagued Woodside in the 1990s, the town is currently involved in a couple of code-enforcement cases against residents' illegal building projects, and is being sued by Little Store restaurant neighbor Steve Peterson, planning consultant Debbie Dodge and Canada Road property owners Bob and Ann Bass.

A judge ruled in favor of Woodside last week in a code enforcement case against Portola Road resident Larry Bridgman, who illegally remodeled and made additions to his house in a heavily restricted portion of his property, according to town staff. Ms. George said Mr. Bridgman was instructed December 10 to remove the illegal portions of his house "posthaste."

Mr. Lanzone, Woodside's legal counsel since 1985, announced in July that he intends to ease into retirement to spend more time with his family.

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