By Cecily Barnes
In response to recent resignations, the Saratoga City Council appointed two new public commissioners. Barbara Olsen will serve out the term of resigning Parks and Recreation Commissioner Donna Miller, and Francis Andreson will finish up for previous Public Safety Commissioner Larry Shen, both unpaid positions. Olsen will serve until October 1997, and Andreson until April 2000. Both will be sworn in at the City Council's Jan. 15 meeting.
Olsen is well-qualified for the parks and recreation position. Presently the manager of community relations for Waste Management, she has a long history of environmental service and concern, including involvement in a tree-planting program and the San Jose Conservation Corps.
"I have an interest in the environment, particularly in parks," said Olsen. "I have a large store of energy, and I thought it would be a very beneficial thing for me to be able to apply my energy to my community."
Olsen says she is particularly interested in protecting the city's parks. Beyond that, she admits, she's not informed enough to know what needs to be done. However, she intends to find out.
"I'm interested to work with the present commissioners and with the community to see what they want with parks and recreation."
Olsen also hopes to reapply for the commissioner position when her term expires.
"I certainly would like to be there longer than less than a year,"she said.
Andreson doesn't have a tough act to follow. His predecessor, Shen, was asked to resign because of a zero meeting-attendance rate, explained Jennifer Britton, assistant to the city manager.
Nevertheless, Andreson stands on his own record. A local business owner, he has a long history of public involvement in Saratoga. Besides being named "Saratoga Business Person of the Year" in 1994, Andreson served as president of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce and has been an active Rotary Club member.
"I attended an open public safety meeting to see if I liked it, and it was very, very interesting. I think I picked the right commission," said Andreson. "I just wanted to serve on a commission as my public duty to Saratoga."
Andreson says he applied for the commissioner's position at the suggestion of a city council member. Presently, he has no agenda beyond reducing congested traffic flow and listening to the constituents.
"I'm going to have to be around for a while before I make anything specific. I think [my job] is going to be more reaction than planning."
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 1, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.