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Hopkinton to shift notification service back to Code Red; Microsoft email service to be covered by grant with 20% match
Summary
Councilors were told IT contract services rose because of police software and Vision fees, but a new federal/state grant will cover about 80% of Microsoft licensing for three years; staff proposed dropping CivicReady and instead paying for Code Red (about $3,200) for town notifications.
Town staff reviewed IT and GIS budget lines and said contract services rose this year largely because of police software (IMC) and Vision subscription increases. The IT manager said a grant will cover about 80% of Microsoft licensing for three years, leaving the town to fund a 20% match (including two‑factor authentication costs), which should reduce the net increase in contract services.
Staff proposed removing CivicReady from the IT budget because sign‑up rates were low, and instead reinstate Code Red for town notifications at about $3,200. The public works/emergency management representative said Code Red covers emergency alerts and weather calls and is already populated with many local cell numbers; while CivicReady offered expanded features, it had not achieved the town’s sign‑up goals.
Councilors also discussed mobile data choices for a signboard near the Crandall House; staff indicated the sign’s cellular service was already budgeted under a Verizon/FirstNet line.
Action items: staff will adjust IT contract services to reflect the grant coverage and 20% match, remove CivicReady from the budget and leave Code Red as the town notification service; staff will return with an updated budget showing the net change.
