Borough Hopes to Upgrade Its Computer Network

A motion to allow Hellertown councilman Tom Rieger and borough manager Cathy Kichline to contact a company that will perform a free analysis of technology assets and infrastructure was unanimously approved at borough council's Dec. 19 meeting.

Rieger explained at the meeting that the borough is currently operating its computer systems on "two separate networks."

Over the past year, to the borough's website have placed additional strain on the networks, and Rieger said issues with email and file-sharing by borough staff have recently become apparent.

"There's a lot more we could be doing if we had the infrastructure to support it," he told council.

For example, Rieger said the borough's website could be upgraded to allow residents to make tax payments online, if the infrastructure that supports the website is improved.   

He later explained that the type of technology analysis he and Kichline are seeking is typically "done at no cost, with the ultimate hope that (the company performing the analysis) will do the work."

He said he hopes the analysis will provide the borough with a technology blueprint for the future, and said he plans to discuss that blueprint when council discusses a five-year capital plan for the borough in January or February.

Among the options that may ultimately be on the table, Rieger said, are to bring a server in-house or to begin utlizing Google Apps, which includes a government division.

He added that Google Apps offers applications including email and file-sharing.

Having a "cloud-based" system might be preferable to having all of the borough's technology concentrated at Borough Hall, because it would allow staff more control over their technology assets in the event of an emergency, Rieger explained.

During that followed , "if we would have had everything hosted at Borough Hall we would have been crippled," he said.

Rieger said he is not sure yet which company will perform the free technology analysis.