Palo Alto Assistant City Attorney Don Larkin will step in temporarily as the town’s top lawyer when Gary Baum retires from the position at the end of the month, council members decided Monday night.
Baum, who has been the city attorney since July 2004, announced his retirement at the beginning of July, and the city has hired the search firm Bob Murray and Associates to recruit a replacement. The process is expected to take several months.
The city council on Monday unanimously approved naming Larkin the interim city attorney following a recommendation from its council appointed officers committee.
“I think it’s certainly an honor to be selected and it’s my intention to keep the seat warm until we get a permanent city attorney,” Larkin said before the council’s decision. “I think we have a very good office and good working relationship with the rest of the city. I hope we’re able to keep that throughout the transition.”
Larkin said he wasn’t taking the post to position himself for the permanent spot and that he doesn’t expect to be a candidate.
Baum, who has worked in public law for 25 years, has also served as the city attorney of Morgan Hill and assistant city attorney of Santa Clara. The 50-year-old Connecticut native earned about $239,400 annually, according to city salary information obtained by the Bay Area News Group.
In a closed session Monday, council members also decided to appoint Michael Edmonds as the acting city auditor, and are scheduled to approve a contract agreement next week. Edmonds will fill in for City Auditor Lynda Flores Brouchoud, who is beginning maternity leave Oct. 25 and is expected to return to the job in May.
E-mail Jesse Dungan at jdungan@dailynewsgroup.com.
