Although in previous postings I have stated my objections to the various incarnations of the Ordinance that passed on first reading Aug 17, 2009 I would like to clarify, explain, and reiterate my position.
But first to go back to my remark at Council that the "walk on" presentation of this Ordinance was " reactive to a disaster". This Ordinance has remained in the wings pending information to and research by the Council subcommittee on Information Technology. It did not appear as an item of discussion at the overly long Agenda Setting Council Meeting of Aug 10 ,2009. one week earlier. It has been in limbo for months and should have been presented by the normal routine used for introduction of Ordinances, not as something that had to be done without waiting for the next business meeting.
Obviously, despite Dashield's vigorous denial, and supported by Council members, that the stimulus was not the Voice Over failure which left City Hall without public phone access, but an agreement between Council and Administration that it was time to re-introduce it. Was it not the appropriate time a week earlier? What had changed? How naive does the Administration think we the voters are?
I am 100+% in agreement that Plainfield needs a functioning Information Technology Division. Indeed we have needed it for the past three years, but now it has become an urgent priority. Instead of diving into the lake without knowing the water depth by creating a "job"with a title that may not describe what is desired, let us take precautions first and start with the creation of the division. Establish general goals and line of reporting and responsibility. Denote the expected type of jobs in that division and potential budget effect.
I am reproducing the from the Civil Service description for "Information Technology Manager 1 Level 1 the following: JOB CATEGORY SUMMARY,A position in this category typically functions as a manager of an organizational unit, monitors progress of projects, and implements,monitors, analyzes, and evaluates systems within an organization;consults with system users on system requirements, problems, and application software.
Council President Burney wrote in his blog on Monday:
At this point we have built out the infrastructure (wiring, IT center, and electrical upgrades). We now need someone to start to put it all together (boldface mine). A simple wish, but a very complex task. Every day we wait, we continue to waste tax dollars due to the inefficiency that we now have at City Hall. residents will also benefit: A better web-site, more info available, Council meetings on the web- on demand etc.
But first to go back to my remark at Council that the "walk on" presentation of this Ordinance was " reactive to a disaster". This Ordinance has remained in the wings pending information to and research by the Council subcommittee on Information Technology. It did not appear as an item of discussion at the overly long Agenda Setting Council Meeting of Aug 10 ,2009. one week earlier. It has been in limbo for months and should have been presented by the normal routine used for introduction of Ordinances, not as something that had to be done without waiting for the next business meeting.
Obviously, despite Dashield's vigorous denial, and supported by Council members, that the stimulus was not the Voice Over failure which left City Hall without public phone access, but an agreement between Council and Administration that it was time to re-introduce it. Was it not the appropriate time a week earlier? What had changed? How naive does the Administration think we the voters are?
I am 100+% in agreement that Plainfield needs a functioning Information Technology Division. Indeed we have needed it for the past three years, but now it has become an urgent priority. Instead of diving into the lake without knowing the water depth by creating a "job"with a title that may not describe what is desired, let us take precautions first and start with the creation of the division. Establish general goals and line of reporting and responsibility. Denote the expected type of jobs in that division and potential budget effect.
I am reproducing the from the Civil Service description for "Information Technology Manager 1 Level 1 the following: JOB CATEGORY SUMMARY,A position in this category typically functions as a manager of an organizational unit, monitors progress of projects, and implements,monitors, analyzes, and evaluates systems within an organization;consults with system users on system requirements, problems, and application software.
Council President Burney wrote in his blog on Monday:
At this point we have built out the infrastructure (wiring, IT center, and electrical upgrades). We now need someone to start to put it all together (boldface mine). A simple wish, but a very complex task. Every day we wait, we continue to waste tax dollars due to the inefficiency that we now have at City Hall. residents will also benefit: A better web-site, more info available, Council meetings on the web- on demand etc.
MY interpretation is that we first need either one of the following Civil Service job descriptions:
electronic systems technician,(or)
Information Technology Technician 1 or 2
These individuals will be able to do the hands on work including integrating
all everything with what I believe may be unused equipment in the annex. They will have to be supervised by Dashield for the time being.
If it had not been for Coucilor's Burney and Storch's informative posting on Monday this Ordinance and the Transit Village study would have been a completely and irresponsible surprise at Council's meeting.
This should again point out to the Council the deficiency created by the monthly only meeting schedule. Plainfield's problem's require more frequent regular meetings, which will be less exhausting, shorter and probably lead to greater depth in considering controversial items. At the September meetings the change back to semi-momthly meetings should at lest be a topic for discussion if not action.
11am: In my concern about the job description not matching what is desired I failed to consider that the various titles used were an attempt to give a Civil Service name to the position. Question, is it a Civil Service position? If not, write the job description and call it what you want; IT Director would be fine under those conditions.
all everything with what I believe may be unused equipment in the annex. They will have to be supervised by Dashield for the time being.
If it had not been for Coucilor's Burney and Storch's informative posting on Monday this Ordinance and the Transit Village study would have been a completely and irresponsible surprise at Council's meeting.
This should again point out to the Council the deficiency created by the monthly only meeting schedule. Plainfield's problem's require more frequent regular meetings, which will be less exhausting, shorter and probably lead to greater depth in considering controversial items. At the September meetings the change back to semi-momthly meetings should at lest be a topic for discussion if not action.
11am: In my concern about the job description not matching what is desired I failed to consider that the various titles used were an attempt to give a Civil Service name to the position. Question, is it a Civil Service position? If not, write the job description and call it what you want; IT Director would be fine under those conditions.
First, the fact that neither the IT position or the transit visioning study were formally on the agenda should be of little concern. Both topics have been introduced previously, both have had plenty of time to percolate, both were legally introduced at the meeting, so who cares if the were not set at the agenda meeting? Let's act on them and move on.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I disagree with your assessment that all is needed is a technician supervised by Dashield. We need a seasoned professional, with some heft to be able to withstand the inevitable personal and political infighting, to get inside the administration and it's agencies, study the details of what works and what is needed, take input from the advisory council, and come up with a structure that makes sense and has a chance of passage in the council, and, at the same time, make everything work from day to day. That is not a job for a technician, it's a job for a superman.
Which leads to point three, not relevant to your post but to the topic in general. We pay about $100,000.00 total a year for a average fireman with benefits, but we act as though we can barely afford to pay that for someone responsible for all of the information technology AND communications for the entire city administration. Get real! We need to find a way to come up with a lot more money for these functions. They are not luxuries, they are the way life in America is today, and will stay tomorrow. To try to get by on the cheap is just another way of keeping Plainfield as a central Jersey backwater.
11:19AM: Rebutal;I do not question the legality of the introduction. These could and should have been present the week earlier, they had time to "percolate". My complaint is that the walk ons area result of the meeting schedules.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I meant to infer that the immediate need is a technicion,. Yes a properly set up division will need the type individual you describe to run it. In this case the egg should come before the chicken.
Thirdly, I agree 100%
To use your analogy:
ReplyDeleteMy fear is that the clever foxes would eat the eggs without the protection of a big strong chicken, and therefore, we, the hungry, would remain so.