08-02-04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I '-- Many new projects that Steph has identified would become more a reality with additional staff support: on-line bill payment; on-line project management for City Departments; informational kiosks; City intranet development; employee training on all software and hardware systems; records management and imaging training; administrative management reporting on email and internet usage; computerized processing of departmental budget management; newsletter; and paperless City forms. The following are examples of the many potential problems that could be faced in the City's network systems, should current staffing shortages continue: Backups: Data back up processes need to be monitored, which is often not done on a regular basis due to time constraints. The backup jobs could potentially fail, which may not be readily apparent without monitoring. To recreate lost data, the cost to the City in employee hours could be enormous; which assumes the data could be recreated at all. Servers: Network components, and especially servers, need to be monitored for hardware and software problems to guard against escalating problems. Currently, time does not allow proper monitoring. It would be entirely possible for one or more servers to crash and be out of commission for several days. For many, if not most employees, inability to work on their server means significant loss of productivity. Data: Due to a wide variety of potential system failures, crucial data on the servers could become corrupted. Efforts to repair, or worse yet, to recreate date could again be a major cost to the City in employee hours. Security: System security against "invaders" is possibly the most threatening scenario of all for networks. Many hackers continue to invent new and stealth methods of damaging or destroying network systems and data. The patches required on a constant basis to keep up with the developing vulnerabilities is by far the most numerous and time consuming of all of the updating that is necessary in a network. Another consideration that is equally important is the human toll that will continue should Staff support be unavailable. Staff is asking for some flexibility as we advertise, recruit and ultimately hire a new Staff person. As stated previously, funds have been allocated for a part time position, which has remained vacant since early 2004. Recruitment efforts for a new part time person were not successful. Thus, the approach Staff is proposing would result in an advertisement and recruitment process that leaves open the possibility of hiring either a part time person (with or with out benefits, which are "triggered" with an average 30 hour work week); or a full time regular employee. The ultimate decision would be based on the pool of candidates, those most qualified, and their current situation; all with the intent of matching the best candidates situation with the City's situation and need for an additional Staff person. We need to get someone here as soon as possible, as this flexibility would be advantageous as the process of advertising and hiring is started.