1982-08-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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SESSION 1313 MINUTES OF THE UNIVERSITY CITY COUNCIL August 16, 1982 At a special meeting of the City Council of University City, held in the Assembly Room of the City Hall on Monday, August 16, 1982, Mayor Joseph W. Mooney presided and called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m. In addition to the Mayor, the follow- ing members of the Council were present: Mr. Lawrence Lieberman Mr. Joseph L. Adams, Jr. Mrs. Cynthia Metcalfe* Mr. Marvin B. Levy Mr. Paul E. Schoomer Mrs. Betty L. Thompson Also present was City Manager Frank Ollendorff and City Attorney Dennis F. Kay. *Mrs. Metcalfe arrived at 7:34 p.m. The meeting was called in order for Councilmember Levy to present the results of his research concerning the upgrading of the City's computer system, and the alter- natives which may be available. Mayor Mooney asked the City Manager to comment. Mr. Ollendorff said the administration's recommendation remained the same as the one put forth at the previous Council meeting, that is, to purchase a second mini- computer system, compatible with and to be used in cooperation with the Texas In- struments (TI) computer now being used by the City. He pointed out that the major disadvantage of doing this was the cost, which was about $25,000 more than the al- ternative which Mr. Levy would present to the Council. However, the recommended computer would give the City several advantages: 1) the City has been advised by three sets of experts that this proven system will solve the City's current prob- lems with the present system; 2) it will give the City future expansion capabili- ties; 3) costs for the recommended system are exact and firm--he felt there was some question concerning the alternative; 4) additional backup capability will be available; and 5) installation will be accomplished more quickly. He said the al- ternative system, which was relatively new and unproven, was not in use anywhere in a situation similar to the one in which it would be used in University City. He added that all of the consultants on this matter had agreed that the recommended system would more than adequately meet the City's needs. Mr. Levy thanked the Council for delaying action on this matter in deference to the concerns he expressed at the last meeting, while noting he still had those concerns. He did not wish to delay a decision any longer, but wanted to share his views with the Council. While realizing there were extenuating circumstances, he expressed dismay that the City's first computer system required that so much be added to it such a short time after it was put into use. However, he felt there was no good reason to be bound to a decision which was shortsighted at thattime. Now the Coun- cil was being asked to make a decision, based on expediency, to duplicate the exact same system, which had the same capacity as the present system. Although certainly not implying a lack of integrity, he noted that all of the information supporting the administration's recommendation had come from people who were connected with or