Lincoln Selectmen weigh $1.4 million IT overhaul ahead of override vote

LINCOLN -- January 11, 2010, Lincoln Selectmen press IT Committee on $1.4 million capital plan and doubled operating budget. The board took its first look Jan. 11 at a five-year, $3.25 million strategic plan from IT Director Chuck Miller and an appointed committee, including $1.4 million in capital requests and a $211,000 first-year operating increase that would roughly double current IT spending. Chair Sarah Cannon Holden warned that "people may have a second thought when they see the price tag" and demanded full-time-equivalent staffing comparisons with Weston, Wayland, Sudbury and Bedford. Town Administrator Tim Higgins said the proposal reflects "10 years of not building staff capacity in IT," with Miller as Lincoln's sole IT employee supporting four separate systems. The board also heard Fire Chief Arthur O'Brien request a $45,000 overtime increase, from $120,000 to $165,000, against 205 back-to-back calls logged from July 22 to June 15. No votes were taken; the warrant closes Jan. 25.