Just DoIT
The city's new information technology manager set forth an ambitious agenda Thursday for the new Division of Information Technology, cleverly dubbed DoIT.
At a mayoral forum at Washington Community School, Chris Payne said objectives for the next three to six months include creation of one central network to connect all departments and divisions, overhaul of the city's web site, migration to a "plainfield.gov" address instead of "plainfield.com," an auto attendant for the city's phone system, a citywide telephone notification system and more.
Payne left the Plainfield school district to take the new city title this year. He is in charge of media and communications, meaning he also leads operations of the city's original Comcast local Channel 96 and a new Verizon FiOS Channel 34. Payne called on Lamar Mackson, chairman of the Plainfield Cable Television Advisory Board, to comment on new television initiatives.
Mackson said the board has reorganized and now has its own web site at http://www.pctvab.wordpress.com/ with updates. He said the new Plainfield Academy for the Arts and Advanced Studies has a television production program and has submitted work for viewing on channels 96 and 34.
The board wants to update the channels' bulletin board functions, upgrade its production studio equipment and expand the program schedule, he said.
The forum was also slated to provide updates on roadway projects and public safety crime prevention tips, but this writer decided to call it a night and walked home.
--Bernice
At a mayoral forum at Washington Community School, Chris Payne said objectives for the next three to six months include creation of one central network to connect all departments and divisions, overhaul of the city's web site, migration to a "plainfield.gov" address instead of "plainfield.com," an auto attendant for the city's phone system, a citywide telephone notification system and more.
Payne left the Plainfield school district to take the new city title this year. He is in charge of media and communications, meaning he also leads operations of the city's original Comcast local Channel 96 and a new Verizon FiOS Channel 34. Payne called on Lamar Mackson, chairman of the Plainfield Cable Television Advisory Board, to comment on new television initiatives.
Mackson said the board has reorganized and now has its own web site at http://www.pctvab.wordpress.com/ with updates. He said the new Plainfield Academy for the Arts and Advanced Studies has a television production program and has submitted work for viewing on channels 96 and 34.
The board wants to update the channels' bulletin board functions, upgrade its production studio equipment and expand the program schedule, he said.
The forum was also slated to provide updates on roadway projects and public safety crime prevention tips, but this writer decided to call it a night and walked home.
--Bernice
posted by Bernice at 7:59 AM
12 Comments:
Sounds like Payne might turn out to be a good appointment. I wonder how many commmenters will give the mayor credit.
Payne is an outstanding worker. He knows his stuff. Too bad he was so mistreated at the BOE by SGIII. Too sad, too sad. Their loss.
I'd love to give the Mayor credit, but at the moment all we have is a PowerPoint presentation. The changes will take money and technology power may replace people power to some extent. That'll be a balancing act, as will be making substantive improvements as opposed to loading up on bells and whistles.
But hats off to the Mayor and Chris Payne. We await your safe arrival on the other side of the trapeze.
To 8:58am - The issue is not giving the mayor credit for appointing Payne, who I do believe is a good choice.
The issue is, I feel that she lied to the city when she said that there was no one slated for the position.
The whole city seemed to know that Chris was going to get the job. Could it be that the mayor was the only one who didn't know. I think not, I think she lied.
It was a crime to watch the way CP was mistreated and abused by DSG.
Kudos to him!
While he is sorely missed at PPS, he appears to be greatly respected and given an opportunity to be successful in City Hall.
We wish you the best, Chris!
So let's keep score so far:
All seem to like Payne
2 don't like Gallon (no mention of mayor)
1 expresses dissatisfaction with the mayor's public announcements
1 gives the mayor provisional credit, and uses a nice trapeze analogy
I can admire someone in government who actually creates an actual and tangible plan that can be measured and critiqued properly for the benefit of the person making and the residents of the city. The "mayor" may have tripped over something right ( a broke clock is right 2x a day )but she would never be so ambitious or brave to carve and agenda into stone so that her accomplishments and failures could be calculated by anyone wishing to do so. The few times she has done that such as :
--- The traffic triangle on 9th and Park is a glaring examples of when she put her name on a goal for everyone to see and nothing became of it. The sad part, it was paid for and it wasn't done.
Kudos to Mr.Payne for being goal orientated and brave enough to put together a plan of action. That's why I will very rarely compliment the "mayor" as she never would make a plan to measure her performance later.
( God...it is just SOOOOO easy ripping on the "mayor" ...no effort involved )
Exactly, NO EFFORT INVOLVED!
Every Division and Department submits Goals and Objectives as part of the budget process. Unfortunately, they are meaningless if there is no accountability or evaluation based on them.
We shall see what benefits are yielded by this brave and bold new move to bring Plainfield TV into a new age of usefulness. Keep in mind, though:
1. There are still questions, such as those raised on Dan Damon's blog, regarding the previous dealings with the city of Payne and/or his company.
2. And were the folks of Plainfield made aware of any special qualifications one should have have in order to realistically handle such an undertaking as Tech AND Communications Director?;
3. While with the Plainfield school system, is it possible there were some advantages of speciel treatment by previous CSA's (Leverett, HOward, etc.) and/or other leadership that gallon did not provide upon his arrival (I'm NOT any fan of Gallon's of course, either!);
4. Isn't all the hoopla and fanfare kind of premature, given we already HAD a TV station that mainly featured a PowerPoint? And last time I viewed, it seemed quite excessive on the highlights of our Mayor and Administration's activities. but I will keep vigilantly watching and suggest fellow Plainfielders do the same
Nonetheless, I am HOPEFUL that our city's Technological and Communications previous shortcomings and entaglements are kept safe from the tainting of POLITICAL influence...as much as possible, anyway. I don't believe Mr. Payne to be incompetent, but I hope the skill set, potential and ambition don't somehow complicate matters as may have been the case in PPS.
Like it or not, the truths must be put out there and we need no more discrepancies the like of the DSG fiasco. While I feel for Chris in his plight with Gallon, we must all remember silence is not always Golden!
Skeptical? Yes! Hopeful? Yes! Optimistic? God is good. Keeping the faith. And may God guide you Chris and help you lead in providing for our Informational necessities with transparency!
Rob,
No effort involved either for throwing stones at glass.
Problem is you live in one yourself. What have YOU done except whine, whine, whine. Then you get up and whine even more.
Boy that was so easy to rip apart a do-nothing like Rob.
I won't comment positive or negative until I actually see some action. Talk is Ch..p
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