The Administration pulled the Salary Ordinance for the Director of Data Processing off the agenda tonight. I am happy to say that the Administration has promised to give the Council a detailed presentation on the creation of this position at the March 9th meeting, allowing the Council more information and time before deciding how to move forward.
Detailed presentations illustrating the thought process behind making any decision should be standard. It should be the rule and not the exception. Going forward the Council must accept nothing less. I look forward to seeing a thorough presentation by the Administration.
As I have stated before, I am committed to bringing Plainfield’s technology into the 21st Century; however, I want to make sure that the decision on HOW to do this is well thought-out and carefully considered. I am accountable to the residents of Plainfield and I have not forgotten my promises to taxpayers.
Without the support of residents via response to my blog entry, phone calls and e-mails sent to me and other Council members, I would not be reporting such an outcome. THANK YOU!
I have posed a number of questions over the past several weeks that have gone unanswered. I have listed those questions (and the suggested questions of resident Sandy Gurshman) below. Please suggest any additional questions that should be addressed next week.
1. What will be the total IT cost (best estimate will do) for the remainder of this year? What are the annualized costs?
2. How does the City plan to off-set these costs?
3. What research has been done on the possibility of a shared service agreement, either to replace or to supplement the position of a Director?
4. Are there other options? (ex: Livingston has an IT Manager at 70k/yr)
5. What are the expected outcomes of hiring a Director of Data Processing?
.
11 comments:
Wow - you've posted quite a bit on this issue! It seems like us residents should be thank you for standing up and not being a "yes man (well woman)" like some of your peers!
If it is true that you brought in the Union County data processing director and she did state that Plainfield needs the position, then you have to do the right thing and go along with the plan. Since YOU brought in the director, you cannot now turn around and discredit her. You cannot have it both ways.
And you cannot keep piling on the questions and requests for more information. At some point, like the Republican in DC, you will be left behind.
To the anonymous poster at 10:58pm:
It is true that I brought that person in (see below post with details provided).
The Council, as the governing body, has the right to information on how this position will be funded. I've waited patiently for weeks for answers to my questions, going as far as doing my own research to get to the bottom of things.
I promise not to keep piling on questions, I just want the ones I've been asking for weeks to be answered!
Annie
Bravo Council McWilliams!
We must Thank You! for taking such an outstanding position. You, and us, deserve to have the answers prior to make a decision.
Unfortunately, there have been many, many times where the answers have been promised and we are still waiting for the answers.
I would like to see the council explore, once again, a Shared Service option. It might be with a local agency, with a county one, or even with an out of county agency, what about advertising for it? Putting a bid out for it? Would this be possible?
It's not only the IT Director position that worries many of us, but the added expenses, ie., the need for more employees under him/her, that are said to come along with this position.
Hopefully it will all work out to the benefit of the community once the answers to all questions are given by the administration.
Thanks again for maintaining your position despite the pressure and negativity of an unhappy crowd. We are with you.
MP
I am surprised that people are angry with YOU, and no one has addressed the fact that the ADMINISTRATION is the one to blame. If questions had been answered in a timely fashion, we would be on our way to approving an IT position.
It appears that the word "timely" is not in the administration's vocabulary. Neither are "answering questions".
Thank you for your perseverance, and intelligent thinking.
Annie,
I appreciate your approach in asking critical questions when addressing this issue. Plainfield's budget has never had abundant funds, and after the horrible budget "mistake" in 2008, we are not in a position to make expenditures without understanding true costs, ensuring appropriate levels of services, exploring creative alternatives for providing these services, and knowing where/how future funding for a project or position will come from. These are appropriate considerations in this matter and in every issue coming before the council. Decisions and proposals should be expedient, thorough, but not rushed. Kudos to you.
Hi Councilwoman,
I previously worked at the Board of Ed and I had the opportunity to see the mismanagement and abuses carried out under the guise of a shared services agreement with the City of Plainfield. I was extremely disappointed but felt there was no one to turn to, to voice my concerns. I'm hoping you will be one who keeps an eye on the activities of city hall to ensure that sound and responsible decisions are made.
Does the city have clear and concrete long and short term goals as it relates to technology? Are we looking to hire an IT Director to implement a plan to attain goals that have already been identified or will this person be expected to identify the goals?
In most organizations IT is not a profit center but more of a black hole. Yes the technology will make some activities more efficient, but will these more efficient activities result in savings or increased revenue for the city?
Take a close look at the Plainfield School District, (for those school employees reading this, this is not a knock on you or the job you do), at the high point of Abbott money flowed into the District like it was going out of style. Today the school district has better IT resources than many affluent school districts and some third world countries but what was the ROI? Did the technology improve test scores? Increase enrollment? Did it make a difference other than to say we've got the latest and greatest hardware and software available?
Don't let the same mistake happen at the City.
I think technology is great and life would be tough without it, but when I look at the recent increase in PMUA rates, the condition of the streets I drive and some of the more pressing issues in Plainfield such as day laborers on Front Street, crime and the overall economic condition of the country I wonder if a major investment in IT at this time is a need or a want.
Hi Councilwoman,
I previously worked at the Board of Ed and I had the opportunity to see the mismanagement and abuses carried out under the guise of a shared services agreement with the City of Plainfield. I was extremely disappointed but felt there was no one to turn to, to voice my concerns. I'm hoping you will be one who keeps an eye on the activities of city hall to ensure that sound and responsible decisions are made.
Does the city have clear and concrete long and short term goals as it relates to technology? Are we looking to hire an IT Director to implement a plan to attain goals that have already been identified or will this person be expected to identify the goals?
In most organizations IT is not a profit center but more of a black hole. Yes the technology will make some activities more efficient, but will these more efficient activities result in savings or increased revenue for the city?
Take a close look at the Plainfield School District, (for those school employees reading this, this is not a knock on you or the job you do), at the high point of Abbott money flowed into the District like it was going out of style. Today the school district has better IT resources than many affluent school districts and some third world countries but what was the ROI? Did the technology improve test scores? Increase enrollment? Did it make a difference other than to say we've got the latest and greatest hardware and software available?
Don't let the same mistake happen at the City.
I think technology is great and life would be tough without it, but when I look at the recent increase in PMUA rates, the condition of the streets I drive and some of the more pressing issues in Plainfield such as day laborers on Front Street, crime and the overall economic condition of the country I wonder if a major investment in IT at this time is a need or a want.
In these harsh economic times, the City should enter into a shared services agreement with the PMUA instead of the Board of Education for two reasons. (1) There is more common data between the two organizations. For example, you could hold joint training sessions between the two organizations. Data processing functions could be performed in-house instead of outsourced. i.e., PMUA notices, and other City departmental mass mailings.(2) We could share all of the technological and personnel costs. I would say a staff of four or five could do the job.
I also believe that Plainfield's systems need to be updated but to partner with the PMUA? Lets give the PMUA another reason to unreasonably raise our rates even more. Accountability is what we need and your doing a good job.
You fail to see the point. First, the City will hire an IT director and staff. Why not mandate the PMUA to share in the costs. Second, the savings of doing more data processing functions on-site will eliminate the use of outsourcing vendors. Third, you can still have accountability. I suggest, this director should answer directly to the City Administrator by submitting monthly reports to the City Council if necessary. Lastly, the share costs of IT will not be the cause of your rates to go up. It is usually the costs associated with garbage disposal, sewer treatment, and personnel benefits such as pension contributions.
Post a Comment