The Programs & Services Committee met on Thursday, May 14. See the report and meeting video.
Approved
- Authorization to expend $550,000 from Certified Free Cash for Storage Area Network replacement — 6-0. The City’s current Storage Area Network (SAN) stores all city data, including department files, financial information, and the GIS system, across approximately 56 physical servers. The manufacturer is no longer providing support or security updates for the existing platform, which is six years old. The replacement cost of $550,000 is an estimate based on the consultant’s recommendations; the new system is expected to have a three- to six-year life cycle. A councilor noted that as more city applications migrate to cloud storage, the next SAN refresh will likely be smaller and more cost-effective.
- Authorization to expend $150,000 from Certified Free Cash for Protective netting at Halloran Sports Complex— 6-0. The netting would be installed along Albemarle Road and Crafts Street to prevent soccer balls from leaving the multipurpose field and entering the roads, a safety hazard for both drivers and children. The netting will be approximately 20 feet tall, similar to netting at Newton South High School. The contractor is already in place and installation is anticipated by fall.
Present: Councilors Krintzman (Chair), Malakie, Farrell, Charm, Bixby, and Oliver.
Absent: Councilors Baker and Micley.
Also present: Councilor Leary.
City staff: Greg Ansaldi, Chief Information Officer; Rachel Sherman, Deputy Director of IT; Marc Welch, Acting Commissioner of Parks & Rec; Mark Kelly, Director of Special Needs & Deputy Director of Parks & Rec; Seth Bai, Director of Veterans; Meryl Kessler, Director of Arts & Culture; Michelle Buglio, Acting Director of Newton Public Library; John Rice, Chief Community Service Officer; Josh Morse, Chief Operating Officer; Dana Hanson, Chief of Staff; Miles Starkey, Committee Clerk.