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Board creates CIO position, eliminates Telecom Commission; supervisors criticize Avaya contract amendment
Summary
The board approved an ordinance creating a Chief Information Officer position and dissolving the Telecommunications Commission, and separately adopted a retroactive fourth amendment to a contract with Avaya Inc. that increased the contract ceiling; Supervisor Campos called the Avaya matter “one of the worst contracts” he had seen.
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an ordinance to consolidate technology oversight by establishing the position and duties of a Chief Information Officer and eliminating the city’s Telecommunications Commission. The ordinance passed on first reading with 11 votes in favor.
Separately, the board considered a retroactive resolution authorizing the Department of Technology to enter into the fourth amendment to its Avaya Inc. agreement and increasing the contract’s maximum expenditure to roughly $12.5 million. Supervisor David Campos criticized the handling of the Avaya contract on the floor, saying the city had been “held hostage by a vendor,” that centralization of contracting can work but requires strong oversight, and that the handling of this contract illustrated weaknesses in the city’s contracting and management processes. Campos said he would vote “no.”
The Avaya resolution passed the board by roll call: nine ayes and two noes (Supervisor Campos and Supervisor Dufty voted no). Several other supervisors voted in favor, and the resolution was adopted.
Why it matters: Establishing a CIO centralizes responsibility for information technology policy and operations; dissolving the Telecommunications Commission changes oversight structure. The Avaya contract debate focused on contracting practices, accountability for vendor-managed services and the risk of retroactive amendments that increase spending limits.
Implementation and oversight: The ordinance to create a CIO moves forward from first reading. The Avaya resolution authorizes the city to amend the vendor contract and increase the expenditure ceiling; board members urged better contract management and follow-up to ensure centralized oversight prevents similar problems.
