Laptops coming for councillors?

It appears the possibility of purchasing laptop computers for Mapleton councillors is back on the table.

Near the end of last week’s meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Patty Sinnamon said perhaps the most effective way for the township to cut back on paper would be to purchase laptops and move to electronic agendas for council meetings.

Finance Director Mike Givens said at one time he  receives an estimate from the county, which approved laptops for councillors last year, but it seemed high. “I brought a number forward and the number was daunting, so that was the end of the discussion,” Givens said.

He added costs will likely be $2,500 per councillor, plus costs for wiring in the council chamber. And the township does not have the information technology staff to walk council through the transition, he said.

Mayor John Green said he already has his county laptop and would not need another. He  quipped that with the exception of county councillors Brad Whitcombe and Carl Hall, he is likely the most computer illiterate person at the county, but he has managed to adapt.

“I don’t miss anything,” Green said, adding he used to deal with upwards of a thousand sheets of paper a month, but that has been considerably reduced.

Sinnamon said laptops could have the same effect in the township, helping to cut down on the eight packs of paper currently required to print off council agendas. They could also significantly reduce the amount of staff time dedicated to putting the packages together, she added.

Green said perhaps Givens should bring another report to council on the matter.

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The discussion on laptops came as Sinnamon was lauding staff for responding to her challenge on ways to cut back on paper.

“My hat’s off to them,” she said, noting 23 different ideas poured in from staff, some of which have already been im­plemented.

She suggested staff could stop printing off every item of correspondence received for information only, unless council wanted to discuss a specific item.

Last week, that section of the agenda was 11 pages.

Councillors seemed agreeable to the idea.

 

 

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