Dunbarton Technology Committee
October 7, 1997 Meeting

Agenda

  1. Review any computer problems with the town employees.
  2. Discuss the town's Web site.

Attendees

  • Larry Cook
  • Van Ditmer
  • Glenn Doten
  • Gary Hendley
  • Rhoda Hendley
  • Linn Kurkjian
  • Janice Jelley
  • Chip Peters
  • Linda Peters
  • Martha Rae

Discussion

The meeting started at 6:00 PM.

 

Printing

Martha described some problems she was having with printing because the printers are connected to client PCs and the PC that a printer is connected to much be turned on in order to print to that printer. Also, the users need access to the laser printer on the Building Inspector's desk. It was decided that two print servers will be ordered: one 3-port server and one 1-port server. The printers will then be connected to these servers. This will allow any user to print to any printer regardless of which PCs are on or not. An HP 1-port printer costs approximately $160-$170 and a 3-port printer costs approximately $300-$350.

Janice also mentioned that she can't print from the appraisal program, which is a DOS-based program.

Electronic Mail

Janice and others expressed the desire to have e-mail available on the town's network. It was decided that Larry will look into an NT-based package called FTGATE that is used where he is employed. He will see what it would cost to implement this program on the town's computers.

PC Passwords

Janice requested that the PC BIOS Passwords be enabled on all the PCs so that someone can't just walk up to a PC that is shut off and turn it on and use it. The password will be the same on all PCs.

Server Accounts

It was pointed out that not all committee members have administrator access to the server computer. It was also reported that Glenn had given Janice a sealed envelope to be stored in the town's vault which contains the server PC's administrative account name and password.

Roaming Profiles

Janice requested that each town employee be able to use any PC in the town offices and that when someone logs in the PC will bring up the programs and other settings that that person users on "their" PC. This can be implemented by a feature of Windows NT and Windows 95 called roaming profiles.

Storage of PC Software and Materials

Chip mentioned that the PC software CD-ROMs and proof-of-license papers and any other paperwork associated with the PCs be collected, placed in a box, and stored in the town's vault.

Backups

The subject of backups came up. When the server and the client PCs were installed by the vendor the server backup software was installed and supposedly set to run every night at midnight. It was decided that this needs to be verified to ensure that the backups are indeed occurring as expected and that some sort of tape rotation scheme is being used. Also, the server's tape drive needs to be cleaned every two weeks by using the special cleaning cartridge that came with the computer.

Pager Program

Janice brought up the issue of the pager program not working on the new PC. One of the old PCs is being used for this program. It was decided to see if this program can be replaced with a Windows-based paging program or if a simple alphanumeric paging service can be used.

Auditing Requirements

Linn brought up the question of whether there were any legal auditing requirements that had to be met with the new town computers. Does any data have to be saved a certain way? for a certain amount of time? etc. It was decided to check with the town's auditors Mason & Rich to see if there are any such requirements.

Town's Web Site

The new town Web site was discussed. Everyone agreed that the new format is effective except for one issue with the color contrast used on the first page.

How to update the Web site was discussed. It was agreed that a single Webmaster should be used because if multiple people update the site at the same time there is a possibility that one person might over-write the changes another person makes. Also, the site may become inconsistent in it's look if multiple people update the site; it is better to have a single Webmaster to edit any submissions for their look-and-feel so that they match the rest of the Web site.

The top-level cut at topics on the first page of the Web site was discussed. Some liked them, others thought there were too many top-level topics. It was decided to review the top-level topics and implement the new list.

Van mentioned that some of the links on the new Web site are dead-ends. This is because some of the links aren't finished yet.

The issue of town activities, events, and other announcements that are posted on the town's bulletin board are not being communicated to the Webmaster for inclusion on the town's Web site and not just on the town's bulletin board at the town offices. It was decided to create a form that posters of such information can fill out which would then be delivered to the Webmaster for inclusion on the Web site.

The lack of content on the Web site was discussed. While there is a lot of information there now, there is also a lot absent that could be added. An idea discussed was to print out each committee, board, etc. top-level page and ask the selectmen to have the appropriate chair people confirm the generic information as being correct as well as encourage the inclusion of information about their committee, board, etc. on their Web page.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 PM.

Action Items

  1. Gary -- Order one 3-port print server and one 1-port print server. He will also run the cables necessary for them and install the print servers.
  2. Glenn -- Set up the printers on the server PC as well as on each client PC.
  3. Glenn -- Investigate and ensure that DOS-based programs can print to the print servers, in particular the appraisal program.
  4. Larry -- Investigate FTGATE program: cost and appropriateness for town's network.
  5. Glenn -- Set PC BIOS passwords on each computer.
  6. Glenn -- Create administrative accounts on the server PC for those committee members that don't currently have one (except for Linn!).
  7. Glenn -- Implement roaming profiles on each client PC.
  8. Janice -- Collect all PC software and paperwork and store in town vault.
  9. Gary -- Check that server backups are working properly and check into implementing a tape rotation scheme.
  10. Janice -- Put some process into place so that the server's tape drive is cleaned every other week.
  11. Larry -- Check the pager program and see if it will work in the new infrastructure, if it can be replaced, or if an alphanumeric paging service would be just as useful and cost-effective as the paging program is.
  12. Janice -- Check with Mason & Rich, the town auditors, to see if there are any audit requirements with the new computer infrastructure.
  13. Glenn -- Fix color contrast used on Web site's first page.
  14. Van -- Investigate the top-level topics shown on the Web site's first page. Start a discussion, via e-mail, on what the top-level topics should be. If resolution to the top-level topics can't be reached then a meeting will be scheduled to resolve.
  15. Glenn -- Ensure that all links on the new Web site are active.
  16. Glenn -- Develop "bulletin board" form for the Web site.
  17. Glenn -- Print out each committee, board, etc. top-level page o be delivered to selectmen for review by appropriate chairs.
  18. Glenn -- Check with selectmen that it is ok to bring the new Web site online, replacing the old one. The Web address will remain http://www.ci.dunbarton.nh.us.

Next Meeting

No future meeting is currently scheduled at this time.

Note that these minutes are available at the town office as well as on the World Wide Web at http://www.ci.dunbarton.nh.us/ in the Technology Committee section.