04/18/2006 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 4/18/2006 ,,, ~ internal and external elements and monitors and maintains optimal operating efficiency. The cost of time lost could be astronomical because we aren't willing to value the importance of this job within the organization. Trust me when I tell you this city has lived through several IT personnel while I have been here who were incapable of doing even that one important task. With 150 estimated users on the network at an average wage and benefit cost of $ 25(estimate) for each hour the server remains down, it costs the tax payers $ 3,750 of unproductive time. Why mess with success if it can cast this much? Additionally, though Council was concerned that this position doesn't supervise people, secretaries and clerks don't supervise people and they make more than what Council is proposing. More importantly, I believe the Network Administrator has a more difficult job because he works with almost every person in this city who uses a computer that equates to all levels of the organization and must accomplish the goals of his job despite not having direct authority over the persons. He has interpersonal skills along with a proven track record to back up his words that causes these persons to rely on his recommendations no matter at what level of authority they may be. Why risk getting a computer literate person who cannot communicate a clear message to various levels of personnel within our organization? Lastly, he is responsible for nearly half a million dollars of equipment and infrastructure in our buildings let alone the intangible value of protecting our information and for keeping abreast of constant changes in technology so that we may serve the taxpayers in the most efficient way that is practicable. He works well within our organization and the administration is asking for an amount within the range that Council established. Flease support the administration in its hiring mission to attract and retain quality employees. Respectfully submitted, Carrie B. Copfer, CPA Director of Finance" Councilman Ryan said he wanted to express publicly with regard to the IT position that it makes no difference to him who is in the position. What makes a difference to him is the Mayor has said it was important to him. When the Mayor says that with the kind of force he said it with, we should respect that, give the full amount of money, and at the end of the year, we will test him and make sure that he uses the money efficiently and he accomplishes the task. Finance Director Copfer replied that she did distribute to Council some letters she personally solicited on a voluntary basis from people and other administrators who have had IT needs in the last couple of years. As Council reds the letters, they will find these people feel the same way she does regarding the value of the IT person who has made positive contributions to our city, and they also highly value the importance of the network administrator's position. Mayor O'Grady commented that Council has input in salaries when they establish the ranges. This request, which was the number one priority of his administration, put the person at the center of the range. That is reasonable, and he would appreciate the support. Mayor O'Grady asked to amend his report to comment on the school levy, which is on the ballot May 2. He knows that we are all heavily taxed, but that is not the fault of the schools. Too often within every community in the State of Ohio, every three years communities get torn apart. And they get torn apart because the; schools are required to go back to the taxpayers who are already overtaxed and ask for ati increase in their taxes and require that those citizens themselves increase their own taxes. That's an outrageous 6