Posted on: 07/02/08 Ross Marvin, Spotlight Staff email: marvinr@spotlightnews.com
Rotterdam is considering upgrading its record-keeping software to ensure continuity, clarity and universality among the town’s various departments.
Officials from Clifton Park-based Business Automation Services pitched its integrated property system software to members of the town board at an agenda meeting on Thursday, June 19.
According to Supervisor Steve Tommasone, the system would eliminate the sometimes confusing paper trail that shifts from department to department and would unify town services, allowing departments as various as town police, code enforcement, building inspection, public works and the town assessor to have access to the same information at their office computers.
The software could cost approximately $85,000 for installation and training services if the board opts to move forward with the proposal. Operation, maintenance and support for the software would cost the town an additional $9,000 in the first year.
Tommasone said he believes the town could actually see an eventual cost savings.
“We’re currently expending these dollars for other services, which this would supplement,” said Tommasone.
Tommasone said the installation of the software would not result in a staff reduction. But, he said, the software may allow the town to reduce its staff through attrition in the future.
The software works as a relational database, which would reduce the town’s expenses for paper copying and would eliminate the need for repetitive data entry.
“At the click of a mouse, you can get the history of a particular parcel,” said George Vitti, president of BAS. “You can see everything that’s gone on in the past and everything that’s currently going on.”
The town will likely make a decision on the software in July. Vitti said it would take two to three months to implement the software and train designated town employees who would manage the database.
Tommasone said he is in favor of purchasing the software because it will increase the town’s services to the public while simultaneously increasing the town’s accountability.
“Like any other municipality, there is a demand to provide more staffing and equipment for personnel in order to do a more effective job,” he said. “This will give us a dynamic idea of when we’ve done what.”
According to Tommasone, the software would also increase town safety. He said that one module in the proposed software would allow police to view up-to-date mapping of a particular property when responding to a call.
Tommasone said the proposed software could also eventually be used to allow residents to pay their property taxes online.
BAS currently has 700 municipal clients including Niskayuna, Clifton Park and Wilton locally.
Tommasone told Vitti he was interested in whether or not the company had any municipal clients who had recently undergone a town-wide revaluation like Rotterdam did in 2007.
Vitti did not immediately have an answer but said he would report back to the board at a future meeting.
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Salvatore
July 4, 2008, 9:15am
Guest User
Will it help Ang S and Joe S to get their paperwork filed on time at the IDA? They shouldn't have to spend big bucks to get it in. Just do it like Nike used to say.
If this investment can help the town run more efficiently and save the town time and money, than I am in full support of it.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Diane Marco use to help her. Don't know who does that now!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Be nice now! Dianey and Eunice are nice people. DON'T get nasty and personal now. They always got my vote (except when Diane went haywire on Joey Signore) and Eunice always will
I don't think we are getting personal at all. Never said they weren't nice people. And I'm sure the RPD are great full to you for voting for Ms.Marco since she was instrumental in helping them stop the proposed police commission. That was a fiasco!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
well I certainly didn't a few times but I did the first couple of times. When she butted heads with Joey Signore I was mad at her. But the other democrats, Dawnie Pasquarella, Eunice and that. They get my vote, but I have been voting heavy Republican in Rotterdam for about 10 years or more since Jimmy went ubotz with his cumad, trying to run the town like Hillary Clinton. A real Putan I tell you. My wife HATED her. Especially on the county I never miss voting against the crook democrats. Steveie Tommasone gets my vote but I will really campaign for him hard when he grows a set of onions. Too many studies, and wait and see and all of that. I like Johnny Mertz a lot too, but he shouldn't have started all of that trouble with the police, it got to be a little controversial. We didnt need that in the town.
I like Johnny Mertz a lot too, but he shouldn't have started all of that trouble with the police, it got to be a little controversial. We didnt need that in the town.
John Mertz did the 'right' thing. And was 'not' starting trouble. He was doing what the residents wanted all along.
Sure it became controversial, but by who and what group? It was clearly headed by Ms. Marco who showed more solidarity then the entire Republican party put together. A lesson the reps should have learned, but hasn't yet. Although Ms. Marco certainly had the entire RPD behind her, she was their mouth piece. And it was that event that ruined the local conservative party with the party take over of the cops.
So ya see Sal, what Mertz started, an idea which was in the best interest of his constituants, caused the RPD to behave badly. They made it controversial AND political, clearly not Mr.Mertz!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
John Mertz did the 'right' thing. And was 'not' starting trouble. He was doing what the residents wanted all along.
Sure it became controversial, but by who and what group? It was clearly headed by Ms. Marco who showed more solidarity then the entire Republican party put together. A lesson the reps should have learned, but hasn't yet. Although Ms. Marco certainly had the entire RPD behind her, she was their mouth piece. And it was that event that ruined the local conservative party with the party take over of the cops.
So ya see Sal, what Mertz started, an idea which was in the best interest of his constituants, caused the RPD to behave badly They made it controversial AND political clearly not Mr.Mertz!!
You are right. The residents who didn't want the 'bullcrap commission' were the family and friends of the cops.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Geez o Pete's is that your creation? Are you a baker for a living?
Not mine, but I can duplicate it from scratch in about 20 minutes ... not a baker or a candy maker by trade, but LOVE to cook and create new dishes. I have a strong passion for good deserts. And BBQ.
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You are too funny MT!!!!
