Study recommends Erie County centralize IT operations

Source: Erie Times-News, Pa.迷你倉Dec. 20--A County Commissioners of Pennsylvania review of Erie County government's information technology systems suggested the county create a centralized IT department, supervised by a director new to county government.That IT system would encompass all county departments -- including the court system, where President Judge Ernest J. DiSantis Jr. and other officials have opposed plans to consolidate IT operations.The $2,600 study, commissioned by Erie County Council in July, was released to county officials earlier this week.It recommended the county hire a chief information officer who reports to the county executive; that the new CIO be someone from outside county government; and that "consideration be given to creating one technology department that is overseen by the CIO for the near term and then managed by a lead IT director in the long term."Rita Reynolds, CCAP's director of technology services and telecommunications, conducted the study. She interviewed various county employees and gathered data about information technology operations during a two-day visit to Erie in late September.The county has 26 IT workers in various departments, including the court system, who answer to different supervisors and handle issues with computers, websites and office equipment.That fractured system is not efficient, the study says, and is likely costing the county money."While many counties have one Technology Department and one IT Director, Erie County has several that serve in that role," Reynolds' study said.The report said that while Erie County has updated its technology, it is difficult for IT professionals in one department to serve as a backup for other departments, which can lead to "unnecessary costs being incurred for overtime or outside resources."Further, according to the study, hardware and software purchases can be better coordinated, and Erie County uses outside vendors "more frequently than may be necessary," which leads to additional expense."As long a自存倉 Erie County continues to have separate IT Directors or technology support staff that report to the individual departments, difficulties with coordination and communication of technology support will continue to exist," Reynolds wrote in the study.County Council made financial moves in approving the 2014 budget that would consolidate IT operations across departments.But court officials have opposed the move, saying council does not have the authority under the county's Home Rule Charter to eliminate or alter court departments and/or functions.DiSantis said he has yet to read the study, and that he is willing to continue discussions with County Council and County Executive-elect Kathy Dahlkemper about the issue. Dahlkemper favors a centralized system.But DiSantis said he opposes any plan that transfers management of the court system's IT workers."We have no intentions of merging our department with theirs and putting everything under the control of the administration," DiSantis said, citing the security of court-related information/systems as one of his concerns."Right now, the IT needs of the court are being met under the existing system," DiSantis said. "And there is already a good deal of collaboration between the administration and the courts."County Councilman Kyle Foust said the county will likely move to create a centralized IT system "except for courts. Their people would not directly report to the new IT chief."Foust said that eventually, a centralized IT system will prove to be more cost-effective and efficient than the way county government handles things now."Things seem to be too disjointed," Foust said. "It's just time that we have a better coordinated effort on the IT side, so we get systems that work well for everybody."KEVIN FLOWERS can be reached at 870-1693 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNflowers.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) Visit the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) at .GoErie.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉