Chapter 2.40 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

Chapter 2.40
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

Sections:

2.40.020 Director of information technology.

2.40.030 Officers’ and employees’ bond and ethics.

2.40.010 Department established.

(A) An information technology communications department of the town of Highland (the “department”) is established.

(B) The information technology communications department shall consist of a director of information technology, who shall be the department head, and such other employees as may from time to time be authorized by the town legislative body.

(C) The director of information technology and employees of the department shall serve for no set term and as employees at will. The director of information technology shall be appointed by the town council. All other employees in the department shall be appointed according to the provisions of this chapter.

(D) The department shall have the following duties:

(1) The department shall serve as the town’s single point of coordination in the areas of design, procurement, standardization, implementation, service, and support of all the technological needs of the departments, boards, commissions and other agencies of the town. Such technological needs include, but are not limited to, those associated with the following:

(a) Computer hardware and software;

(b) Two-way radio;

(d) Cellular telephone;

(e) Paging;

(f) Photocopiers and photo multifunctioning machines; and

(g) Audio and video monitoring and recording.

(2) The department shall have authority and responsibility, subject to subsection (E) of this section, to make purchases or procurement of all technological supplies, equipment, and services needed by any and all departments, boards, commissions and other agencies of the town regardless of the source of funds. Agencies empowered by state statute to purchase independently may appoint the town’s information technology communications department as their agent for such purchases upon delegation of such independence by the proper authority.

(3) The department shall keep complete and detailed records of all purchases and disbursements, including purchase orders issued, quotations received, basis for bid award, and any and all documents required for audit of purchase activity, pursuant to the purchase code of the town, set forth in Chapter 3.05 HMC.

(E) Procurement Procedures. The procedures to procure or purchase the personal property authorized under this chapter shall be as follows:

(1) The department shall prepare or approve purchase order forms or request forms, instructions, and all standards and written specifications for technological supplies, equipment, and services, pursuant to the provisions of the purchasing code set forth in Chapter 3.05 HMC and IC 5-22 et seq.

(2) The department shall be responsible for developing and administering such other policies, rules, and regulations consistent with the Highland Municipal Code or state statutes, which the department deems necessary for the efficient coordination of the design, procurement, standardization, implementation, service, and support of the technological needs of the departments, boards, commissions and other agencies of the town. A copy of such policies, rules, and regulations shall be distributed to all such town agencies and filed with the clerk-treasurer.

(F) Disposal of Certain Property. All town departments shall submit reports to the information technology communications department indicating the technological supplies and equipment on hand and not in use, as requested. The information technology communications department shall be responsible for and have the authority for or to cause the disposal of obsolete, excess, unused, or scrap technological supplies and equipment, in accordance with the laws of the state of Indiana. All revenues shall be deposited with the clerk-treasurer, and deposited to the credit of the information technology communications fund, or the fund that supported the initial purchase.

(G) The department shall perform such other duties as are from time to time assigned to it by the town council president, or the clerk-treasurer.

(H) The compensation of the personnel appointed under the authority of this chapter shall be authorized and fixed in the wage and salary ordinance and the compensation and benefits ordinance as adopted or amended from time to time, by the town council, subject to its appropriations and other ordinances of the municipality. [Ord. 1739 § 1, 2021].

2.40.020 Director of information technology.

(A) The town council may appoint a director of information technology. The town council may not consider political affiliation in the selection of the director of information technology.

(B) The director of information technology must be qualified by training or experience in the field of computer networking, information technology, or informatics, or have a certification or an advanced degree in the field of computer technology or electronics; a bachelor’s degree is desirable from an accredited university or college. In addition the director shall possess the following attributes:

(1) Sound understanding of computer systems, networks, security, telecommunications, databases and storage systems.

(2) Strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills.

(3) Ability to manage and prioritize tasks and projects.

(4) Solid working knowledge of all relevant coding languages and security protocols.

(5) Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

(6) Team-oriented leadership.

(7) Good process-management skills.

(1) Propose annually a plan for the operation of the department;

(2) Administer the plan as approved by the town council;

(3) Supervise the general administration of the department;

(4) Keep the records of the department and preserve all papers and documents of the department;

(5) Recommend persons for appointment as assistants if the town council determines there is a need;

(6) Appoint the employees of the department, subject to the approval and authorization of the town council, according to the standards and qualifications fixed by the town council and without regard to political affiliation;

(7) Prepare and present to the town council and the clerk-treasurer an annual report;

(8) Annually submit to the town council and the clerk-treasurer a data processing resource inventory to include all data processing hardware, software, technical personnel, and data processing contracts including the date of acquisition, when placed in service and, if applicable, date of retirement;

(9) Prepare and administer an annual budget for the department as other departments of the town;

(10) Provide quarterly performance reports;

(11) Identify and eliminate security risks;

(12) Analyze municipal, state and federal requirements ensuring that the town is in compliance with any such requirements;

(13) Working with the clerk-treasurer, cause the electronic records, including social media of the town, to be properly archived or retained according to the Indiana law regarding public records retention and preservation;

(14) Liaise with other departments, determining and addressing their information communication technological needs and requirements, and educate employees on use of software and systems;

(15) Maintain accurate inventories of computers, accessories, photocopiers, multifunction machines, printers, telephones, and software licensed to the town of Highland;

(16) Perform other duties that the town council directs.

(D) The director of information technology may be certified and perform the data management and retrieval duties according to the Indiana Data and Communications System (IDACS), the computerized law enforcement/criminal justice communications and information storage and retrieval system.

(E) If the town council determines that the size of the department’s operation requires assistants for the director of information technology, the board may authorize, upon the recommendation of the director of information technology, one or more assistants. The town council shall determine their qualifications on a basis similar to that prescribed for the director of information technology.

(F) Assistants are directly responsible to the director of information technology and shall perform the duties specified by the director of information technology. [Ord. 1739 § 1, 2021].

2.40.030 Officers’ and employees’ bond and ethics.

(A) The department through its director of information technology shall, in the manner prescribed by IC 5-4-1, execute a blanket bond in the sum of $15,000 payable to the town, to be approved by the town council president, conditioned upon the faithful performance of all departmental employees including the director of information technology, including the duty to comply with IC 35-44.1-1-1 and the duty to account properly for all monies and property received by virtue of the employee’s service in the office or position and while acting on behalf of the department and the local government.

(B) The premium upon said bond shall be paid from funds of the municipality. Said bond may be executed with any recognized and responsible surety company authorized to do business in the state of Indiana. The bond shall be filed and recorded in the office of the recorder of Lake County and filed with the clerk-treasurer, pursuant to IC 5-4-1-5.1.

(C) No employee of the department including its director shall be authorized to purchase through a company owned or operated by the director or any employee of any department of the town. The director shall refrain from doing any work, engaging in any enterprise, or performing any services in the town which would, or might, create or cause a conflict of interest. [Ord. 1739 § 1, 2021].