By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
With the intent of being environmentally conscious, efficient and compliant with open records laws, Union Grove officials are considering a proposal to issue an iPad, or tablet computer, to each of the seven Village Board members.
Before a decision is rendered, however, a number of issues are being reviewed, including the cost and how the iPads would be funded within the scope of the village’s budget.
At an Administration and Finance Committee meeting held last week, Trustee Gordon Svendsen proposed going high tech with the other two Village Board members sitting on the appointed body.
“I think one of the biggest advantages for us would be the ability to access email easily and readily,” said Svendsen, who chairs the committee. “This is a way to keep everything separate.”
Svendsen said he was particularly concerned about board members’ personal information being revealed, in the event of an open records request on a home computer.
By segregating all village business on one device, such as an iPad, Svendsen said the dilemma is solved.
Ultimately, cost will play an important part in deciding how the full board votes on the iPad proposal. At the committee meeting, Svendsen said he projected each iPad costing about $530 per person and $50 monthly for Internet access.
Fellow committee member and Trustee Teresa Holm said she likes the idea of having the clear segregation between her elected duties and everyday life.
“I have a lot of personal and financial information on my computer,” Holm said.
“And I’m not always on my home computer, so I might not see something right away when it comes in (from Village Hall).”
Committee member and Trustee Tim Mallach said he wasn’t as sold on the idea, noting that he didn’t feel he needed an iPad. But he agreed to take charge and investigate the issue further.
“I’ll look into it and see what other communities are doing,” Mallach said.
The committee agreed to forward the proposal on to the full Village Board for input.
All seven members hashed over the issue at Monday’s meeting. Svendsen said no action was taken, but there was a consensus to continue looking into the finer points of such an arrangement.
Committee members and village staff will be looking into what iPads would mean for the reduction in printing and paper costs in an effort to gauge the potential savings against the cost of the iPads and Internet usage.
Village officials anticipate bringing the issue back to the Administration and Finance Committee at a meeting in June.
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