HUMBOLDT — A potential new information technology policy would give councillors the choice of getting a city-provided tablet or a $500-per-term allowance for their own device to conduct city business.
In the last term, the policy was to provide tablets for councillors, but a few did opt to use their own device. A proposed policy reviewed at the Oct. 13 special council meeting suggested replacing that with a $500-per-term allowance.
Lori Yaworski, the city clerk, said she was looking at a new cloud-based meeting and document management system that would be easier to access from any device.
Councillor Roger Nordick said he would prefer to have a city-provided tablet.
“I use this strictly for secure business. I know if something goes wrong, I know I can bring it into the city and it’s going to get looked over.”
Yaworski said the new meeting system would have security provided by the vendor.
Councillor Larry Jorgenson said he wanted more flexibility.
“I think you’re going to find is with any council that will come in here, you're going to have people like Rob [Muench] and I, who already have probably multiple devices in our house. We don't need another one,” he said, adding that some new councillors wouldn’t have a suitable device.
Councillor Michael Behiel moved a motion to get city staff to come up with a hybrid policy. It passed.
