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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-10-08 Technical Committee MinutesTechnical Committee Mating Minutes October 8, 19W Committee Members Present: Al Douglas, David Little Meeting convened at 8:35 a.m Al updated David on the meeting held with the Strategic Committee. Al reported to the Strategic Committee what the Technical Committer has worked on to date Three were questions from the Strategic Committer regarding software and whichwould be the beat for the City. Windowbrr appeared to be the =9 popular Al suggested than demos be set up on the different types of operating systems (WindowaM, Novelf, Office97, etc.). David suggested the possibility of going to PBS to check rat their Novell system. At this pairs, the primary objective is to look at the functionality of all the software packages, which will dictatethe hardware used. Mostdeck alpha savers that are being looked at are compatible with these programs. David asked about the Comminct's response to the idea of notebooks. The feeling is that all Councilors should have notebooks and tra'uting. Al explained the current survey of the departments to the Strategic Connivance. The Committer would like copies of the survey when complete. Alindicated that tone frame was also discussed. Thereareotherprojectsbeingworkedonathis time that need immediate attention. This pmject will beworked onasmuch aspossible with E- mail and notebooks hopefully in place by the end of the year. AI also suggests that he schedule an informal meeting with Edward Barrett to discuss the availability of money at the time when recommendations are made to the Committee. Action home 1. Set up the darns (to take place before Thanksgiving) 2. Between Thanksgiving and the Holidays, select a serve and present recommendation to the Strategic Committer, TBA: NEXT MEETING WH.E BE "I ON NOVEMBER 13,1997 AT 8:30 A.M. Information Strategic Committee Meeting Minutes October 1, 1997 Councilors Attending: Jim Tyler, Nichi Farnham Staff Attending: Edward Barrett, Ron Heller, Bill LaPan, Al Douglas, Dave Pellegrino, Sean Gross Meeting convened at 8:30 am The purpose of this meeting is to hear a report from AI Douglas as to what the Technical Committee has been working on up to this point. The Technical Committee has been meeting since June and throughout those meetings there have been a lot of suggestions, comments and questions. AI handed out to the Committee a general overview of the things that were discussed and goals that were trying to be reached. The first goal was to be able to notifythe Councilors of important information within a two ham time frame. Groups targeted were; Internal, City Hall, Government, Other Towns and Cities, Special Interest Groups, and Citizens of Bangor and possibly beyond. It was decided to work from the inside out regarding what type of equipment and software was needed in order to make sure that individuals could tie into City Hall and that information could be provided no them from a particular hardware that would be on site. The basic design of a core system and what it should contain was developed as well as the structure of that syskm and system software for the server, which would be the main device that all the software would reside on. The software discussed was WmdowsNT, which is a networking and wmmuoications software application. Also discussed was Mansell Office 97, which contains a word processor, spreadsheet application, database and graphics application. There are servers which can be purchased that already have WindowsNT installed along with an E-mail and Internet package. BID Eastman is continuing research to find the right serves for City Hall. Bill LePen commented that the software is the most important flung. What soRwme to use should be the priority of this point. Eventually everyone needs to he on the same software. If there were several different software packages, it is impossible to service that many different types. Ed Barrett feels that as the City gets into a system where more and more is shipped electronically then all the old programs will have to go. Bill LaPan feels that this will go much smoother if the education/trainwg is given up front Jim Tyler also feels that individuals should be allowed to participate in the selection process. There needs to be a functional specification and once this is front of the Committee, then they can start to sort out whether WordPerfect, Word, Microsoft Office, Lotus, M. is the they can start to sort out whether WordPerfect, Word, Microsoft Office, Lotus, etc. is the better system. Ed Barrett agrees, but feels that almost all the software will meet the basic functional requirements. Technical Committee members went to City sites and surveyed the hardware and software on the PC's. This process is still going on and the information will be summarized when complete. Members also looked at different notebooks, hand held phones, etc. They looked at the easiest way to get to the server and get to the information. Would the version of software the will be on the server be available to everyone so that information on be passed back and forth or would individuals have their own individual packages on their PC and simply send the document from the PC to the server so that anyone can access that document. Dave Pellegrino checked with a local Internet connection, Agate, and was quoted $128 per month for 12 lines if the City were to run a hard line to Agate. AI feels that the number of licences will be important because they come in blocks and based on the amber of blocks, the number of licenses needed would and to be determined. The Technical Committee will be meeting again at October S. Ed Barrett explained tut the Committee would like to get the issue of the server, software, e-mail system and all the interval part wrapped up in the next couple of months so that something fico can be recommended.