Corte Madera forms new finance advisory committee, appoints five members; lottery assigns two initial one‑year terms

The Town Council appointed five members to a newly reconstituted Finance Advisory Committee and assigned two initial one‑year terms by lot.

At the meeting staff reminded the council that it adopted a resolution on Feb. 18 to form the committee and that the first set of appointments would include two initial one‑year terms and three two‑year terms, with the one‑year terms determined by lot. The council selected five candidates and then conducted the lottery: the online appointee Glenn (Roth/Ross) and Carl Spurzum were drawn for the initial one‑year terms; the remaining three appointees will serve initial two‑year terms.

The council appointed Bivar Chapagan (a CPA and director of SEC reporting), Karen Lang (Climate Action Committee member and utility finance background), Lawrence (Larry) Reed (former treasurer/CFO experience and prior public service examining pension liabilities), Glenn Roth (strategic planning and partnerships background, currently in a private‑sector role), and Carl Spurzum (MBA, finance and prior town finance committee experience). Candidates described a range of priorities for the committee: staffing and pension pressures, infrastructure replacement and sea‑level‑rise costs, the town’s retail tax base, and strategic risk planning including flood, fire and cyber threats.

Several candidates urged long‑range projections and proactive risk assessment. Larry Reed said long‑term trend analysis is valuable even if year‑10 projections are uncertain. Carl Spurzum flagged sea‑level rise and infrastructure replacement as major costs; Henry Faust (who applied but was not appointed) described potential revenue options such as a real‑estate transfer tax that would require charter city status and further study.

A motion to appoint the five named candidates carried on a unanimous roll call vote: Council Member Andrews — yes; Council Member Beckman — yes; Council Member Casiza — yes; Vice Mayor Thomas — yes; Mayor Evazio — yes. The council then drew lots to assign the two one‑year initial terms.

Staff and council members discussed the committee’s likely duties: advising the council and Sanitary District No. 2 on fiscal policy, investment and financing strategies, monitoring long‑term forecasts and serving as a technical resource when the council contemplates large borrowing or infrastructure decisions. Staff noted meeting timing and Brown Act requirements may affect remote participation rules.