Portland technology director urges closer communication as vendor transition completes

Peter Lipka, director of the town of Portland’s technology department, told the Board of Selectmen on July 15 that the department has completed a difficult vendor transition and is refocusing on planning and service.

"My name is Peter, Peter Lipka. I am the director of the town of Portland's technology department," Lipka said, opening a 20‑minute presentation that reviewed staffing and vendor changes since his 2024 promotion. He said the town lost a long‑standing telephone support vendor and a technology support vendor in the past two years, but "two of the folks from that company have been very gracious with their time" while a replacement was found.

Lipka said the department recently onboarded a new technology support vendor and is working through a backlog of tasks. "They are onboarded. In my estimation, they're doing a great job," he said, adding that the vendor is helping the department "chew through the backlog of tasks that have built up." Lipka described the technology team as a central nervous system that enables other town departments to communicate and deliver services.

He asked the board for more frequent communication so the department can provide timely information ahead of budgeting decisions. "The goal is to provide you folks the information you need to be confident in the decisions you will have to make regarding investments in technology," Lipka said, and he encouraged selectmen to request details when needed.

Selectmen did not vote on any technology procurement at the meeting. Lipka closed by offering to return with more detailed proposals at a future meeting and invited questions; none were raised.

The board thanked Lipka and his staff for keeping systems running, with the chair noting the importance of having technology support in place when services fail.