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The Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) serves at the request of the Board of Selectmen, but also acts as an advisor to specific Town departments and other Town committees on an as-needed basis.
In this capacity, ITAC provides guidance to the Board of Selectmen and other Town bodies on a variety of technology issues. The Committee concerns itself with matters of information delivery; ensuring access to appropriate communications technology; increasing the efficiency of transactions involving the Town departments; and working to ensure the proper deployment of infrastructure and technology for the Town departments and citizenry. In addition, ITAC provides, as necessary, strategic planning functions for the Town’s departments and committees.
Changes in Membership
In 2004, one new member, Julie Meringer, was appointed to ITAC and one incumbent member, Kaleb Keithley, retired from ITAC.
Both Jonathan Green and Charles Smart continue as co-Chairmanmen and Simson Garfinkel continues as Clerk.
Summary of Activities
At the end of 2003 and during the first few months of 2004, ITAC entered into discussions with the Merton Group, a private technology investment organization, concerning the feasibility and desirability of Belmont establishing a Town-owned cable TV/Internet service. While the Merton Group initially showed enthusiasm for partnering with the Town in this endeavor, they later concluded that this was not in their best interest, and ITAC agreed to table the matter.
Based on information received from the Town’s IT Manager, ITAC sent a letter to the chairman of the Town Annex Renovation Building Committee in April 2004 indicating its concern that appropriate attention was not being paid to the proper provisioning of the computer server and telephony room in the renovated annex. The letter indicated this provisioning should include “clean” power supported with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) backup system, air conditioning, security and environmental monitoring systems. Subsequent to the letter’s receipt, the Renovation Building Committee agreed to provide a UPS system in the new location and also consider addressing the other provisioning needs.
Throughout 2004, ITAC consulted regularly with Dr. Lee McCanne, Director of Technology for the Belmont Public Schools, concerning various technology matters affecting the Town’s school system. These matters included, among others, help in developing an appropriate replacement and replenishment plan for the Town’s supply of computers, analyzing a lease versus buy approach to financing computer purchases, and formulating School Department proposals to the Capital Budget and Warrant Committees.
Similarly, ITAC was consulted regularly by the Town IT Manager concerning Town-related technology issues, including software training for Town employees, possible replacement of the S&S accounting and billing system, fiber redundancy options, enhanced web-based services for the Town citizenry, and possible acquisition of a geographical information system (GIS). Unfortunately, these activities were temporarily interrupted in May 2004 by the departure of Karen Martin, the IT Manager. David Petto, a Town employee for four years and Ms. Martin’s assistant, was appointed Acting IT Manager and has ably continued the technology division’s various initiatives and programs. Mr Petto’s appointment as IT Manager was made permanent in January 2005.
Like several other committees, ITAC spent considerable time discussing the possibility of an independent, non-profit cable television production facility (i.e., a community media center and studio), as well as other items related to the cable franchise license negotiations with Comcast. Although the license renewal proposal from Comcast to the Town was rejected by the Board of Selectmen in September 2004 and negotiations are still ongoing, the conveners of the Media Center Task Force continue to plan the mission and purpose of an independent community media center. Led by Jonathan Green, ITAC members are participating in these planning discussions and offering advice to the Task Force on technology related issues.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles Smart, Co-Chairman
Jonathan Green, Co-Chairman
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