Chapel Hill Technology Advisory Committee

[Terri Buckner <tbuckner AT ibiblio.org>]

Evelyn,

I have no objection to rephrasing the question. When I invited Cal and 
Kevin to our meeting, I told them we needed them to help us become more 
effective in working with Council and Staff. I don't think we will 
really need to ask very many questions.

Terri

Evelyn Daniel wrote:

> Dear Terri and all,
>
> I agree with this reassessment.  We need to develop our plans 
> incrementally and work with and through Bob.
>
> Could we amend your questions to the manager and the mayor, Terri, to be 
> "What is the most effective and efficient way to bring issues to your 
> attention and gain your support?"  This is really the question we want 
> answered.  I'd prefer this formulation rather than focusing on the past 
> and what we might have or should have done.
>
> I think it's important to have a long range plan but also important not 
> to get too detailed with implementation issues.  We need to pick one or 
> two big-ticket items and advocate for them to become items on the CIP.  
> I believe this is the vehicle that we should use in working with 
> council, as the example from the Arts Commission shows and as my 
> experience with the Library Board confirms as well.
>
> I see little point in going forward to council with a plan that is at 
> odds with the direction the staff is taking.  We need to work for 
> consensus within the committee (including staff members) before taking 
> anything forward.
>
> Evelyn
>
> --On Friday, June 17, 2005 2:19 PM -0400 Terri Buckner 
> <tbuckner AT ibiblio.org> wrote:
>
> > Ralph,
> >
> > I think the lack of feedback (on the web plan and the current tech plan)
> > is a result of us not understanding the process for moving a plan from
> > committee to endorsement to implementation. After reviewing the Public
> > Arts plan as well as a couple of others, and talking with the mayor's
> > assistant, it's clear that we need staff to advocate for the plan. So
> > while we were working on the premise that we are appointed by and
> > responsible to the council, which is accurate, we still missed the boat
> > since it's the manager who manages the day-to-day operations of staff.
> > Without Bob and the manager's endorsement, our plans will continue to be
> > presented and probably not responded to. So the question I have for the
> > manager and the mayor is "If we could start over, what should we do
> > differently in order to get the manager's support?" Should we have
> > invited him to one of our meetings? Should Alan have presented it to him
> > before we went to council? Should Bob have been our advocate?
> >
> > There's also a format/detail issue. The public art committee developed a
> > broad stroke plan and the manager took that plan and presented it to
> > Council along with an implementation plan. We, on the other hand,
> > developed a plan that is very specific and presented it to Council
> > without any conversation with the manager. We expected someone (Bob or
> > the manager) to endorse our detailed plan and add dates/costs to each of
> > our tasks. But we didn't take into consideration the issues Bob felt
> > needed to be addressed in the upcoming year. So he created his own plan,
> > using some of our issues and not others. Somehow we need to figure out
> > how to meld those two plans and figure out what we do when there is not
> > agreement between committee and staff.
> >
> > Terri
> >
> > Gregg Gerdau wrote:
> >
> > > Ralph and All,
> > >
> > > Many of us have been wondering the same thoughts about Council and
> > > Manager feedback.  Some research was done by Terri, who cites the
> > > following example.  Although perhaps a less complicated subject, these
> > > offer some guidance and templates for discussion:
> > >
> > >     Here's an example of what we need to do with the Technology Plan -
> > >
> > >     Plan submitted by Public Art Commission:
> > >     _http://townhall.townofchapelhill.org/agendas/ca050523/4i1-Chapel%20
> > >     Hill%20Public%20Arts%20Commission%20Report%20and%20Recommendations%2
> > >     0on%202005-2006%20Annual%20Public%20Art%20Plan.htm_  (Text rather
> > >     than spreadsheet, linked to capital improvement plans--in other
> > >     words integrated with other Town planning process, addresses
> > >     interaction with other departments/boards, does not include all the
> > >     detail that our plan has)
> > >
> > >     Managers recommendation/resolution for adopting the plan:
> > >     _http://townhall.townofchapelhill.org/agendas/ca050523/4i2-Recommend
> > >     ed%202005-06%20Public%20Art%20Plan.htm_  (defines the details--such
> > >     as the scope of the commission's input, budget, etc.)
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks for feedback on the opening dialogue.  Keep 'em coming!
> > >
> > > Gregg
> > >
> > >     -----Original Message-----
> > >     *From:* Ralph Beisner [mailto:rbeisner AT nc.rr.com]
> > >     *Sent:* Friday, June 17, 2005 4:40 PM
> > >     *To:* ggerdau AT intelor.com; Chapel Hill Information Technology
> > >     Advisory Committee
> > >     *Subject:* Re: [Chtechcomm] Agenda for June 21 Technology Committee
> > >     Meeting
> > >
> > >     Gregg,
> > >
> > >     One area of concern I have had for sometime is that we rarely have
> > >     any direct feedback from the Council regarding reactions to those
> > >     things that have been proposed.  I would like to see some sort of
> > >     mechanism put in place that documents the Council's reactions to our
> > >     proposals so we have a better idea of how to proceed going forward.
> > >     We should have a collaborative relationship that aids both sides in
> > >     doing what is best for our citizenry.
> > >
> > >     Ralph
> > >
> > >         ----- Original Message -----
> > >         *From:* Gregg Gerdau <mailto:ggerdau AT intelor.com>
> > >         *To:* chtechcomm AT lists.ibiblio.org
> > >         <mailto:chtechcomm AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> > >         *Sent:* Friday, June 17, 2005 5:16 AM
> > >         *Subject:* [Chtechcomm] Agenda for June 21 Technology Committee
> > >         Meeting
> > >
> > >         Good Morning,
> > >
> > >         The agenda for our regular meeting on Tuesday evening was posted
> > >         on the Town's web site here
> > >         <http://www.townofchapelhill.org/ABC/agendas/technologyagenda.ht
> > >         m>. The text of the agenda is coped below, for your convenience.
> > >         I understand that several other Council Members, including Mark
> > >         Kleinschmidt, may also attend.  This promises to be a most
> > >         informative meeting and I trust you will be able to attend (I
> > >         know Brandon Perkins is away on business).
> > >
> > >         As I mentioned in yesterday's preview message, I would like to
> > >         know your thoughts on what you would like to learn from the
> > >         Mayor and Manager in advance, as I prepare a brief introductory
> > >         message. This is "listen and learn time" to help achieve our
> > >         Committee's mission and purposes.
> > >
> > >         -Gregg
> > >         ----------------------------------------------------------------
> > >         --------
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >             Town of Chapel Hill
> > >
> > >
> > >             Chapel Hill Technology Committee Regular Meeting
> > >
> > >
> > >                     Tuesday, June 21, 2005
> > >                     5:30 ?7:00 p.m.
> > >                     Town Hall Training Room
> > >
> > >            1. Additions to Agenda - Chair (2 min)
> > >            2. Recognition of citizens present to discuss items not on
> > >               Agenda - Chair (3 min)
> > >            3. Introduction of new Committee Members ? Chair (3 min)
> > >                   * Martha Hoylman
> > >                   * Allan Polak
> > >                   * Brian Russell
> > >                   * David Lewis
> > >            4. Recognition of Ralph Beisner’s reappointment for a second
> > >               3-year term ? Chair (1 min)
> > >            5. Introduction of Mayor Kevin Foy, Council Member Mark
> > >               Kleinschmidt and Town Manager Cal Horton ? Chair (40 min)
> > >                   * Introduction of current committee members present ?
> > >                     Chair
> > >                   * Discussion with Mayor and Manager regarding their
> > >                     view of Technology Committee’s role in Town
> > >                     Government - Chair
> > >            6. Approval of May 17, 2005 Meeting minutes - Chair (3 min)
> > >            7. Report from Staff ? Bob Avery (10 min)
> > >                   * Budget Progress Update
> > >                   * Update on Open Source Pilot Project
> > >                   * Status of the CivicPlus Web Project
> > >            8. Smart Card presentation by CH Parking Services ? Brenda
> > >               Jones (15 min)
> > >            9. Mayor and Council's referral for a follow-up report by the
> > >               Manager and Technology Committee of a citizen’s
> > >               recommendation to create a wireless Internet access
> > >               environment in the Northside neighborhood and make old
> > >               computers available for use by persons who otherwise would
> > >               not have access to computers and the Internet. - Chair (8
> > >               min)
> > >           10. Other Business added to agenda - Chair (5 min)
> > >
> > >         ----------------------------------------------------------------
> > >         --------
> > >
> > >         _______________________________________________
> > >         Chtechcomm mailing list
> > >         Chtechcomm AT lists.ibiblio.org
> > >         http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/chtechcomm
> > >
> > >
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