By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Hoping to incur long-term savings, Waterford Village Board members are considering a plan to forgo paper and instead harness digital technology for official municipal business.
Village Administrator Rebecca Ewald and Village Clerk Carrie Orlovsky discussed with the Village Board one possible scenario – using iPads – at a meeting June 13. The plan called for ending the long-standing practice of preparing paper packets for board members and instead delivering documentation to elected officials via the device.
According to cost estimates crunched by village staffers, purchasing iPads or a similar electronic device for all seven board members could cost around $4,000. Long-term, the village could save $1,200 annually.
While there was preliminary support for the plan, board members withheld making a decision and asked for more information. The board is expected to continue to using paper packets through at least the end of 2017.
Purchasing iPads or a similar device likely will not be included in the upcoming 2017 capital projects list. A motion made at the June 13 meeting called for holding the iPad discussion over until early December. By that point, the 2017 calendar will be minted.
Taking into account such incidental expenses as toner cartridges, wear-and-tear on printers and the paper itself, Orlovsky said printing packets is a costly exercise. Depending upon the specific meeting, documentation typically runs upward of 100 pages or more.
Board members lauded the potential cost savings, though a few officials admitted a full-on electronic leap could be an adjustment.
“Sometimes, when I’m jumping screen to screen, I find myself not knowing where I am,” Village President Tom Roanhouse said.
Trustee Jim Schneider said he likely would have a learning curve, though he commented, “I’m starting to get into the new age.”
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