HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-29-12 Information & Technology CommitteeINFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY
MAY 29, 2012
Committee Members Present:
Citizen Member: Vacant
Other Council Members Present:
David Varner, Chairperson; Henry Davis,
Valerie Schey, Tim Scott
Derek Dieter, Karen White, Fred Ferlic,
Gavin Ferlic, Oliver Davis
Other's Present: Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Aladean DeRose, Mark Neal, Mike Schmuhl,
Police Chief Chuck Hurley, Kevin Allen, Kathy Cekanski- Farrand,
Murray Miller
Agenda: Update - City Website
Update - City Phones
Update — SBPD Protocols — Police Chief Chuck Hurley
IN essence this brief presentation made by Jitin Cain from the Economic Development
Department is summarized with a handout he provided for Council. It is attachment #1
for reference. Several Councilmember's offered suggestions to research "best practices"
in place in other communities. Mr. Cain noted the references adding the city was
investigating the models employed by other cities which have won awards at national IT
conferences.
The recently completed city telephone system was outlined by the head of the city's IT
Department, Bob Allen. Bob provided a three page summary report attached to these
minutes as exhibit #2. The report summarizes the entire process from imagining to
selection and implementation of the system. Bob estimated a $35 thousand annual
savings through 2016. Savings of $333 thousand annually would be realized starting in
2017. Q &A followed.
After this brief discussion the Mayor addressed the Council regarding the ongoing
controversy surrounding the federal investigation resulting in the demotion of the police
chief and dismissal of the communications bureau director. In a nutshell, the Mayor
stated that shortly after he took office in January he was made aware of a federal
investigation into the possibility of phone recordings in the SBPD that might violate
privacy laws. Shortly before the end of March the Mayor was informed while there were
recordings made, no criminal charges were expected and the investigation was closed.
Further disclosure. restrictions applied. The Mayor said he ordered all taping of
conversations except 911 lines on March 30. Since then no other lines have been
recorded. Council questions along the lines of what did you know and when did you
know it followed. The Mayor reiterated what he previously stated and pledged to provide
the Council all materials from the investigation he was legally allowed to release. More
Q & A followed and it was pretty clear there were more questions than satisfactory
answers. Clearly this issue was far from being over as far as the Council was concerned.
There being no further business to come before the Committee at this time, Chairperson
Varner adjourned the meeting at 6:10 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dr. David Varner, Chairperson
Information & Technology Committee