Technology Should Be A Factor

In Town’s Planning

To the Editor:

It’s a snow day for the kids in school and thanks to technology, I will work from the comfort and safety of my home today.  I will be in several meetings, thanks to teleconferencing and net meetings, and access my files at work from home.  I can even read up-to-the-minute news on The Bee online. 

Advances in technology like this are what is missing from some of the current thinking in town government. 

The cost for technology is less expensive compared to new buildings, and must be part of the plan.

Such an investment would allow the town to:

*eliminate the need to have all the town office in one place — no new town hall

*provide Internet access for town meetings so more people could participate — ease of scheduling

*invite business to work with the town due to the relative ease of doing business — competitive business environment

*provide access to town documents, forms, permits, etc, electronically — efficiency in process, time

*provide efficient storage of documents and forms — efficient utilization of space

There is probably a lot more, and each of the existing processes in town would need to be reviewed and reworked to get a complete list.

Part of the master plan must address the utilization of technology so that the money we do spend on buildings is done for the right reasons. It would cost only a fraction of what is proposed for a new town hall to achieve the technology I am suggesting, but the benefits would be immense. 

Margaret Oliger

196 Brushy Hill Road, Newtown                                                           0       February 26, 2007