Photo by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier
Interim city manager Bill Zaner is a retired city manager from Palo Alto who will fill the vacancy in Los Altos for three months while a search continues for a permanent hire.
Town Crier Staff Writer
Los Altos City Manager Dianne Gershuny retired last Friday and on Saturday William Zaner began as interim city manager.
After a flurry of closed city council meetings March 9, 10 and 11, Mayor Kris Casto announced on Thursday that the council had hired Zaner.
Bill Zaner, 60, is no stranger to Los Altos. He has lived in Palo Alto since 1979. For 12 years, until his retirement in 1992, he served as Palo Alto's city manager.
Since retirement he has been an interim city manager in Belmont, Half Moon Bay, Morgan Hill and Atherton.
"He's familiar with coming in for a short time," Casto said. He will keep it (the city) together, status quo."
Casto said Zaner will probably be here until June, when the city council expects to have a new city manager in place.
"I'm excited," said City Councilman King Lear. "It's like having a top level experienced consultant with us of whom we can ask a lot of questions. And we can learn from him."
With no position to protect, no ax to grind, Zaner said, "I can call things as I see them. I can be candid. And I can suggest things that maybe a regular manager couldn't."
Zaner was one of five applicants for the job. Three became finalists and then the council voted 5-0 for Zaner. He will be paid $75 per hour for a 40-hour week, which is the equivalent to an annual salary of $156,000. Gershuny earned about $110,000 per year.
When asked about driving a hard bargain, Zaner said he drove "a good bargain. I've been other places and earned more. I leave it to council to decide as to what is fair."
Last Thursday Zaner met for more than an hour with Gershuny and then for a briefing with city clerk Carol Scharz.
"This is a good assignment," Zaner said. "The (city) staff has a good reputation. They are well-regarded in the area."
Gershuny, city manager the past eight years, was treated to an elaborate retirement party Friday at the Garden House in Shoup Park. More than 150 guests attended the party.