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IT director asks board to fund network switch replacements and an additional technician to reduce MSP dependence
Summary
IT staff requested capital funding to replace aging network switches and asked the board to fund a third IT position to reduce on‑call burden and outside MSP reliance.
The city’s technology director presented two related requests: capital funding to replace aging network switches and supporting transceivers, and budget authority to add one full‑time IT technician.
Staff said 12 switches would replace a larger set of older devices and that the project includes the required transceivers and configuration work. The director described the planned upgrade as the largest networking project at city hall since systems were first stood up and said it would improve security and reduce chronic equipment‑age issues across satellite sites (airports, parks and public‑works facilities).
On staffing, the IT director asked for a third full‑time employee to spread on‑call coverage, respond to help‑desk workloads (which rose after the city moved some services in‑house) and lower dependency on a managed‑service provider. The director presented industry benchmarks that suggest a larger staff for a city of this size; he said the current two‑person team regularly fields 25–30 after‑hours calls per year and that on‑call rotation has operational and retention impacts.
Board members asked how a new hire would affect the current MSP contract; the director said his goal is to bring some work in‑house and shift the MSP role to specialized, as‑needed services once staffing and internal capacity are greater. The board did not approve hiring or the switch replacement at the workshop and asked staff to provide costed options and potential savings from reduced MSP reliance.
