Monte Sereno Creates Part-Time Finance Director Post on 4-1 Vote

Monte Sereno has gone more than a year without a permanent finance officer while auditors flag weaknesses in its internal controls. On Nov. 3, 2026, the City Council voted 4-1 to create a part-time finance director job and a retired annuitant classification, betting that an on-site hire will fix the books faster and more cheaply than outside consultants. The council also filled a Youth Commission seat, accepted a $7,000 gift for emergency go bags and approved a hillside home on Lexington Drive.

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• Part-time finance director job created 4-1, with Councilmember Bryan Mekechuk dissenting over audit priorities
• City manager projects about 50% savings over current consulting and internal-control fixes by year's end
• Lexington Drive home and side-setback variance approved 4-0, with Mayor Lon Allan recused
• Ray He wins voting Youth Commission seat 5-0 after a two-candidate contest
• $7,000 family foundation gift accepted 5-0 for Youth Commission emergency go bags

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Finance Fix: In-House Help Over Consultants

The basics: The city's Finance and Administrative Services Officer position has been vacant for more than a year. Since then, Monte Sereno has relied on two contractors: Mays and Associates for accounting and Municipal Resource Group for consulting. A retired annuitant is a retiree who returns to work for a public agency on a limited basis while drawing a CalPERS pension.

Why it matters: Auditors issued internal-control memorandums for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2024 and 2025. Those findings are the city's clearest signal that its financial controls need attention, and the council just chose who will handle them.

Where things stand: The resolution creates a part-time finance director classification and a retired annuitant classification. It also eliminates the vacant finance officer and finance officer/facility manager positions and updates the salary schedule.

"The part-time staffing will benefit the city by having an onsite employee overseeing the finance operations at a cost savings of about 50% over the current consulting services," said City Manager Diana Perkins.

Vice Mayor Lisa Shannon listed other benefits: separation of duties, freeing up the city manager's time and access to investment advice. "This role is part-time and it's hourly on an as-needed basis, so we're not having a sunk cost," she said.

Human Resources Consultant Rumi Portillo explained the procedural reason for the vote. Hiring a retired annuitant requires a classification on the salary schedule because "CalPERS requires a publicly adopted salary schedule."

The other side: Councilmember Bryan Mekechuk backed the annuitant classification but opposed the finance director position. He argued that its duties were not aligned with the Mays contract and that no evaluation criteria existed.

"I believe that our number one priority should be addressing every single item in the memorandum of internal control that was issued by the auditors for the fiscal year ended June 30th, 2024 and 2025," Mekechuk said. He suggested that work might be better handled through a separate engagement. "The internal controls should be a one-time project. It's not an ongoing thing."

Councilmember Ken Toren shared the concern about sequencing. "First things first … you shouldn't be jumping ahead," he said. He asked for a timeline, and Perkins said internal controls would be the new hire's first assignment. "I believe it could happen before the end of this calendar year, if approved tonight," she said.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The resolution passed (For: 4, Allan, Shannon, Toren and Councilmember Burton Craig; Against: 1, Mekechuk; Absent: 0). Allan moved the item and Shannon seconded. Residents get a dedicated finance lead on site. The consultants' role is likely to shrink. And the new hire will be judged on whether the audit findings get closed.

What's next: The city can begin recruiting. Perkins expects the internal-control work to be completed by the end of 2026. That target gives residents and the council a clear benchmark to check against.

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Narrow Lot, Narrower Setbacks on Lexington Drive

Why it matters: Monte Sereno rarely grants variances, and this one cuts required side-yard setbacks by 5 feet on both floors. How the council justified it could shape future requests.

Where things stand: Application 2026-3017 at 18327 Lexington Drive covers several requests: a two-story house with a basement and attached accessory dwelling unit, a 6-foot front fence with a vehicular gate, removal of five trees that staff described as invasive or in poor condition, and the setback variance.

"The applicant is requesting side yard setbacks for the first floor of 15 feet where 20 feet is required," a city staff presenter said. The second floor would be set back 20 feet where 25 feet is required.

The Site and Architectural Commission recommended approval on Oct. 7, adding landscape screening as a condition. A neighbor who had raised privacy concerns was satisfied after the plans were revised.

Architect Chris Coomer of CKA Architects described the lot as having three narrow "fingers." He said one of those segments is "essentially a hallway and a room."

Vice Mayor Shannon chaired the hearing because Mayor Allan, who lives within 1,000 feet of the site, recused himself. Shannon said she had attended the commission hearing. "It is the most unusual site with— it's fairly narrow and then it has a big long tail," she said. Councilmember Craig told the applicant that "your ask on variance wasn't significant."

The other side: No one opposed the project. Mekechuk supported it but added a warning. "I believe strongly that we should not grant variances except in unusual circumstances," he said.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The council approved the project (For: 4, Shannon, Mekechuk, Toren, Craig; Against: 0; Recused: 1, Allan). Mekechuk moved the item and Toren seconded. The motion as read cited a 5,349-square-foot house and 10 trees. Staff had described a house of about 5,256 square feet and five trees. Neighbors tracking the project may want to check the adopted resolution for the final figures.

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Youth Commission Gets a New Voter

Where things stand: A voting member of the Youth Commission resigned Sept. 30. The city limited applications to current non-voting members, and two applied.

Regina Hernandez-Galza cited her leadership on student council and of food drives. "I want people to understand that I actually care about being on this Youth Commission," she said.

Ray He pointed to the community picnic, his school involvement and an e-waste project. He said the e-waste initiative is "something I look forward to spearheading once I'm a bigger voting member."

Councilmembers asked both applicants when they joined, how often they attend and whether they plan to stay involved.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Councilmembers first voted by written ballot, then formally appointed He (For: 5; Against: 0). Craig made the motion. Members praised both candidates and expressed hope that Hernandez-Galza will fill the next opening. The commission is currently working on household go bags and e-waste collection.

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A Gift for Go Bags as Fire Safety Concerns Grow

Where things stand: Resident Sherry Tai offered $7,000 from the Chen and Tai Family Foundation for emergency preparedness. The Youth Commission's work plan already calls for preparing and distributing a go bag to every household.

Mekechuk noted that "it's very important when you receive a donation to understand what the restrictions are on that." Perkins said the resolution limits the money so that "the donation would be used towards the preparation and distribution of the Youth Commission's emergency go bags."

"It'll go a long way to help make our community safer," said Toren.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The council accepted the gift (For: 5; Against: 0). Mekechuk moved the item and Toren seconded. The project will not draw on the general fund.

The donation arrived shortly after a fatal home fire in the community, and fire safety came up repeatedly during the meeting. "I would like us to find a way that we can assist members of our community with smoke detectors," Shannon said.

What's next: Allan said a meeting with Santa Clara County Supervisor Abe Koga and Los Gatos officials is planned for the first half of December. Mekechuk asked for a separate, comprehensive agenda item on the issue.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar: Items 1, 2 and a renumbered Item 4 approved 5-0; the finance item was pulled for separate discussion.
• Library report: The Santa Clara County Library reported circulation above 8 million and 2.8 million visitors, up 6%.
• Imagination Library: The Dolly Parton Imagination Library program marked its anniversary with 113,171 books mailed; the library also reported a $40 million materials deal with Ingram.
• Regional boards: Mekechuk reported on Silicon Valley Clean Energy, the West Valley Stormwater Authority and waste authorities; Rob Moore was selected as the VTA board representative.
• Future agenda: Mekechuk requested a future agenda item on building neighborhood communities.

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Looking Ahead

Los Gatos and Monte Sereno will hold a joint evacuation study community meeting at 6 p.m. on the Thursday following the Nov. 3 council meeting, in the Los Gatos council chambers.