tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post3224027457370000622..comments2023-10-30T06:13:34.382-04:00Comments on Supervisor Feiner: proposed capital budget releasedPaul Feinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17087805120754057844noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-86743931038499390332013-03-29T00:08:57.481-04:002013-03-29T00:08:57.481-04:00The following items also seem to be unnecessary or...The following items also seem to be unnecessary or expensive:<br /><br /><i>1. Replace Old Network Switches - $37,300 – Current switches are over 10 years old. We need to replace them with new CISCO switches which will increase our network security and efficiency.</i><br /><br />This is wasteful because network Switches essentially do not age. Switches and hubs as a technology have evolved little in the last 10 years. Routers, firewalls, and VPNs and WiFi can merit a greater need -- but these technologies are not mentioned in the capital budget proposal. Perhaps it was an omission? <br /><br /><i>2. Emergency Medical Dispatch Software- $50,000 – The computerized system provides for quick access to the various life-saving protocols.</i><br /><br />This seems like quite a nebulous item. Can you share some details on what advantages the new software has versus our current methodology? Presumably, many life saving protocols are already available. What does this software add? <br /><br /><i>3. Microsoft Office 2010- $10,000 –Equipment needed to compliment the Virtualization for Police Network.</i><br /><br />While I think it is important that our LEOs have access to documents in such digital standards like Microsoft Office -- I wonder what this has to do with Virtualization. Is there no way to re-use our existing Office licences? Maybe one should consider RDP in lieu of something like Citrix?<br /><br /><i>4. Road Resurfacing - $1,200,000 – This project funds the on-going road resurfacing program that serves to maintain the Town’s infrastructure.</i><br /><br />The roads are in pretty poor shape. Some say that is because we don't spend enough on our roads. But not me. I say that the problem is that we have created a trap for ourselves. Our roads are only repaired well-enough so that just when you think you are getting ahead of the game, pot holes in the road resurfaced just last year joltingly remind you that you're only treading water. Let's try to figure out how to make our road and curbing repairs last longer. Change the stakeholders, increase supervision, increase competition... and figure out how to raise the plow!<br /><br /><i>5. Water Meter Replacement / AMI– $3,500,000 - The existing meter reading system is obsolete. The hand-held reading devices do not function properly. Significant re-reading and re-checking must be performed each day. The older water meters are not as accurate as newer meters and result in some water consumption that is missed or not recorded. The new meter system is needed to accurately record and bill customers for water consumed.</i><br /><br />While I agree that the newer systems may give a more accurate reading -- what I and almost all customers know is that all reading errors get resolved in time: all mis-reads get fixed the next time around. While the newer meters may measure flow more accurately and precisely, it is unlikely that errors in transmission will result in changes in individual bills (unless the existing meter is truly defective or has been illegally circumvented.) This is because flow meter technologies have not advanced appreciably in the last ten years. To make my water bill $1 more accurate every three month (plus or minus) -- do we really need to invest $3.5M??? Neither aging (but working) electronics nor "high precision flow gauges" justify the expense. It isn't that important. Furthermore, residential metering errors are dwarfed by leaks and losses in piping maintained by the municipality (e.g., Greenburgh Circle water main). Will this substantially reduce the number of meter-readers?<br /><br /><i>LED lighting</i> -- I caution that LED technology is improving rapidly. Sometimes the cost is dropping so fast that waiting to replace makes more economical sense. Furthermore, LED lighting can be costly to maintain as they are not as robust as existing time-tested technologies. For example, LED lights generally have more electrical components compared to a sodium lamp -- if a fragile LED lamp gets knocked out due to bad weather or a surge -- the repair expense is higher.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33594888.post-35720508720464393032013-03-28T22:57:47.562-04:002013-03-28T22:57:47.562-04:00How does it cost 1.5M to re-evaluate all the homes...How does it cost 1.5M to re-evaluate all the homes? Certainly, one can just use Zillow for free? (They might even be willing to work with us if it establishes their ability to help in other re-assessment needs.) <br /><br />Furthermore, Edye has in the past made up creative theories to impede homeowners' grievance process -- how can we trust her to be fair in re-assessment?<br /><br />While re-assessment is probably for the best, we must not reward those who have gotten us into the poor state we are in now! Let's hire a disinterested 3rd party -- and I am being absolutely serious about using Zillow!.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com