Chapel Hill Technology Advisory Committee

[chtechboard AT willraymond.org]

Thanks Gregg,

If they dissolved the current comm. on one hand and then constitued
another comm. with similar objectives on the other, I guess I might've
kept a bit more quiet.  As it stands, it's BS.

Could I publish your letter on my 'blog?

Thanks,

Will


> Dear Technology Committee Members,
>
> As most of you were aware prior to my announcement, I resigned as both
> Chair
> and Member of the Town's Technology Committee effective Tuesday, March
> 28th.
> I did so, recognizing that I could not devote even close to the amount of
> time required to align the Town Council, Town Staff and Technology
> Committee
> on the needs and benefits of developing and delivering a long term
> technology vision for Chapel Hill.  While I felt personally enthusiastic
> about our Town's future after the execution of a strong strategic plan, I
> recognize that vision in Chapel Hill is hopelessly myopic at the Council
> and
> Staff level.  Someone else, with far more time and patience than I have,
> can
> attempt to engage and develop all the political relationships required to
> achieve worthwhile technology results for the Town and its citizens.
> Thank
> you for all of your support.  I'm done.
>
> Yesterday's publication of Mayor Foy's petition to dissolve the Technology
> Committee is no surprise.  In my email exchange with Mark Kleinschmidt
> last
> Fall (copied below), he confirmed those discussions had apparently been
> going on for some time (several months prior to November 23, at least).
> Technology Committee members will recall many of the events he refers to.
> I'm trying to forget that I ever knew people whose full-time purpose was
> eviscerating the spirit of a remarkably talented and professional group of
> volunteer citizens who could have brought so much to the future of our
> Town.
> In time, I hope I can eviscerate those memories.
>
> I regret that Mark was unable to attend our regular meetings. We could
> have
> used his guidance, and he might have gained perspective and insight on
> what
> is possible from municipal technology as well.  I also regret that the
> Mayor, during our regular meeting of June 21, 2005, said he was unaware of
> the Strategic Plan documents that were presented to the Town Council on
> March 23, 2005.  Rather than demoralizing the entire Technology Committee
> by
> revealing that he had never read the works that we had labored so many
> hours
> to produce, he could have used their guidance for the benefit of everyone
> in
> Chapel Hill.  Too late now.
>
> I further regret that Cal Horton offered his arcane, 5 year old memo at
> that
> same meeting to effectively stop all regular communications of the
> Technology Committee via e-mail.  How's that for progressive?  And,
> ultimately, I regret raising everyone's expectations by spending so much
> time and energy working with David Lawrence and Evelyn Daniel on the
> development of the Electronic Meetings Proposal, only to wait over four
> months for a positive decision by the Town Council, and then to have
> everyone on the Technology Committee receive a nakedly political letter
> from
> the Town Attorney that effectively blocked our testing of it.  No wonder
> we're seeing some "retirements".
>
> The "elephant in the room" is Carolina North.  How can the Town Council
> appear to be technology friendly when one of the most important technology
> transfer efforts in our country is being continuously blocked and tackled
> by
> Council members who apparently need to show some ability to influence the
> University's use of the University's land to expand the University's
> technology transfer activities?  I have often wondered if Raleigh gave NC
> State such a hard time over Centennial Campus.  I regret not being able to
> get an appointment with Dan Reed to meet with his staff and the Downtown
> Partnership about partnering with the University to deliver wireless
> internet service.  I know he must be very busy too.  But it would have
> been
> a good conversation, I assure you.
>
> Feel free to offer your suggestions on how we might be able to re-organize
> ourselves to more effectively "walk the talk" about the adoption of public
> technology in Chapel Hill.
>
> With Best Regards,
>
>
> Gregg Gerdau
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Kleinschmidt [mailto:mark AT CDPL.ORG]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 8:25 PM
> To: gregg AT techcommittee.org
> Subject: RE: Dissolving the Technology Committee?
>
>
>
> I have heard this suggestion made, and was likely overheard expressing
> some
> thoughts about the idea.  I'd love to talk about it.  What is the state of
> inter-personal relationships on the committee?  Any positive feelings I
> may
> have expressed about the possibility were likely sourced in the problems
> you
> have spoken to me about in the past that had become well known in the last
> several months.   I spoke to Kevin once about it and we were at a loss as
> to
> how to solve the problems short of dissolution and re-constitution of the
> committee.  I have heard that the problems you had been concerned with may
> no longer be present.
>
>
>
> I'm typing with 1 hand for a few days so this is hard for me 2 do over
> email
>
>
>
> Mark J. Kleinschmidt
>
> Staff Attorney Center for Death Penalty Litigation
>
> 201 W. Main St., Suite 301, Durham 27701 (919) 956-9545 (919) 956-9547 (f)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gregg Gerdau [mailto:gregg AT techcommittee.org]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 10:26 PM
> To: Mark Kleinschmidt
> Subject: Dissolving the Technology Committee?
>
>
>
> Mark,
>
>
>
> I understand that you and Laurin Easthom have publicly discussed
> dissolving
> the Technology Committee.  Since you have not discussed that possibility
> with me, this information comes as an embarrassing surprise.  When can we
> spend some time to understand what your objectives are?  As our Town
> Council
> Liaison, I have always been open and honest with you.  I expect the same
> in
> return.
>
>
>
> With Best Regards,
>
>
>
> Gregg
>
>
>
>
>
> Gregg Gerdau
>
> Chair
>
> Citizens Technology Committee
>
> Town of Chapel Hill
>
> gregg AT gdgerdau.com
>
> mobile   919-593-0037
> home    919-932-5202
>
> fax       919-869-2828
>
>
>
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