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IT seeks funding for CityBot AI, cites OpenGov expansion and cybersecurity grants
Summary
The information‑technology director outlined FY26 priorities including expansion of OpenGov permitting, an ArcGIS enterprise rollout, municipal fiber to the Quidicus Water Treatment Plant funded by a ~ $151,000 Community Compact municipal fiber grant, and a proposed CityBot AI web/chat tool (first year cost ~$46,000, then $32,000 annually).
The city’s information technology department told the budget committee on May 27 that its FY26 requests emphasize cybersecurity, software upgrades, GIS modernization and a proposed AI chat tool called CityBot. The IT presenter said the city expanded OpenGov use in FY25 and completed a new ArcGIS enterprise portal that will act as the authoritative GIS source across departments.
The department described several grant wins that underpinned capital work. The presenter said the city secured a $151,000 community‑compact municipal fiber grant that extended municipal fiber to the Quidicus Water Treatment Plant and won a Massachusetts Broadband Institute award to fund digital‑literacy classes for the Council on Aging.
The single enhancement requested in IT was CityBot, described as an AI‑powered web chat/text messaging platform that supports multilingual translation for up to 75 languages and can route resident queries to city services. The director provided a cost breakdown: an estimated first‑year cost of about $46,000 (including $8,500 implementation and $5,500 integration fees) and an ongoing annual license of about $32,000. “It’s a multilingual … capable of supporting 75 different languages,” the presenter said.
Councilors asked about metrics and performance measures; the IT director said usage metrics and performance reporting would be provided if CityBot is approved. The department also outlined staffing needs, including an information technology analyst position dedicated to fire, EMS and emergency management and the ongoing rollout of CentralSquare CS Pro for public‑safety records.
Ending: IT officials said cyber‑security upgrades, continued migration of legacy software and the CityBot pilot are priorities for FY26 and that they will supply follow‑up metrics if the council approves the requested enhancement.
