COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

NOVEMBER 17, 1998

ATTENDANCE:

Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:42 a.m.

DISCUSSION: (There is a cassette tape on file for more detailed information)

• Data Center consisting of mainframes and networks is still a substantial cost to the County.
• The technology is old and they are trying to replace it with technology that is more flexible and allows for greater productivity while reducing expenses.
• The current Comdisco lease for the IBM mainframe is very expensive and will end in at the end of February, beginning of March, in the year 2000. The contract will not be renewed. Equipment will returned to Comdisco.
• Air conditioning needs will go down because they will require much less in power and air conditioning.

• The second mainframe is the Unisys mainframe, only a part of which is on the Comdisco lease. It requires a lot of staff and energy. Once the County workforce is on Microsoft Office and the E-mail system, the Unisys mainframe will no longer e needed. The plan is to phase it out in the beginning of the Year 2000.
• Y2K: Pursuing a fairly aggressive strategy, instead of spending a lot of money fixing old computer programs will instead replace about three-quarters of them (Jail, Probation, Board of Elections, etc)

• The departmental system staff will primarily be devoted to getting those systems in place before the end of 1999. There is Capital Budget money being used to purchase software and related systems.

• Revenues: Most costs of the department are charged back to other County departments, to grant programs and to municipal agencies which use IT services and system.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 17, 1998

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• The Committee requested a flow chart of the breakdown of General Services and where positions and responsibilities went as well as an Organizational Chart.

• Records Center is being transferred from the County Clerk’s Office to Information Technology.
• Personal Services: cut those positions that were lowest on the priority list.
• There are 32 vacant positions which they plan to fill at a rate of 8 per quarter.
• Reclassifying positions to reflect proper qualifications of jobs.
• It was asked if hiring per diem or outside help was being considered. Dr. Jacknis stated that it was but for now they plan to wait and see what they really need.

• There was a discussion of Trusts and Grants. The Committee requested a spreadsheet that details the trusts and the departments they have gone into.
• Are DSS Trust Accounts included in CSEA contracts with regard to benefits?
  Repairs & Maintenance (4200): Decrease due to 9^th floor video conference room being funded more appropriately from Capital.
• Amortization of bonds (4461): This is the principal payments on outstanding bonds. Committee requested a listing of this bonds.
• Buildings & Space (5220): In case of a need to rent space
• Services by Parks (5416): Charge by Parks for mowing lawn around the Grasslands Tower. Basically it is a DPW tower but IT is responsible for revenues & County use of tower. Ms. Tooher will get the Committee more definitive answers as to departmental responsibilities with regard to the tower.
• New voter registration and Election Management System: Current system will not work in the Year 2000
• Have estimated charges to other departments but throughout the year the charging basis will be real usage.
• Disaster Recovery: Next year there will be a Capital Budget proposal for completion of work. Brought in a new disk system. One piece will be moved into space at the Records Center.

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.