County to buy new phone system

Jefferson County offices will have a new Voice over Internet Protocol phone system after a divided vote by the county Board of Legislators on Tuesday night.

The county will pay $926,131 to CDW-G, Pittsford, to install a Cisco Systems Inc. phone and data system.

Legislators debated the cost-effectiveness of the purchase.

"It saves $146,000 per year," Allen T. Drake, D-Theresa, said during the meeting. "That's savings for the taxpayers. I'm definitely in favor of it."

The county will save money in service charges by switching to Internet-based phone service, which it could use with its existing equipment. But the hardware that supports the county's phone system was built in 1982 with upgrades in 1992. All of the legislators agreed that equipment needs to be replaced, but they did not agree that this is the time for that upgrade.

Kent D. Burto, R-West Carthage, said, "The savings is in the change in services. I really think we should slow things down and wait until budget time."

Scott A. Gray, R-Watertown, agreed.

"When the debate started, the new system was portrayed as savings," he said. "The conversation or debate has morphed now to, 'If we have the money, let's spend it.' I think that's clearly irresponsible."

Mr. Gray also referenced St. Lawrence County's $565,000 purchase of a phone system.

"If we need to replace the phone system, we should get the best possible price," he said.

Robert D. Ferris, R-Watertown, said he researched the CDW-G bid on the phone system and he couldn't find better pricing anywhere.

"Theirs was not as close to end-of-cycle as ours is," Mr. Ferris said of St. Lawrence County's system. "It gets to the point where we need to make an unpopular decision for the right reasons."

Voting in favor of the contract were: Jennie M. Adsit, R-Watertown, Carolyn D. Fitzpatrick, R-Watertown, James D. St. Croix, D-Watertown, Gino M. Zando, R-Deferiet, James A. Nabywaniec, R-Calcium, Mr. Drake and Mr. Ferris.

Chairman Kenneth D. Blankenbush, R-Black River, Michael J. Docteur, R-Cape Vincent, Mr. Burto and Mr. Gray voted against it. Robert D. Thomas, R-Glen Park, Michael W. Behling, R-Adams, and Philip N. Reed, R-Fishers Landing, were absent.

"I think we need a new system," Mr. Blankenbush said after the meeting. "But I would rather have the budget done and put it back out there."

The county chose Cisco when it looked for a system to upgrade The WorkPlace, 1000 Coffeen St., when the Department of Employment and Training moved there. That decision was based on recommendations from users.

So far, a $32,000 grant from the federal Workforce Investment Act was joined by about $70,000 in county money on the new system, the core of which was installed in the County Office Building, with phones installed in the historic courthouse.

The state was told the system would be upgraded as part of a countywide upgrade later in the summer. Equipment and phones for The WorkPlace are sitting in the basement of the County Office Building.

The bid process solicited Cisco vendors on the state contract, which eliminated all local phone system vendors.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Blankenbush announced he will assemble a five-person committee to create guidelines for the county's fund balance.

The county has about $30 million in fund balance. About $10.7 million is "unreserved, unappropriated" while another $19.3 is considered "management designated."

The management designated and reserve accounts are not included in budget presentations to legislators each year.

"The committee will develop parameters that administration will follow for future boards," he said. "I think it's prudent that we take a look at it prior to the budget process coming around here shortly."

After the meeting, Mr. Blankenbush said fund balance is an annual discussion during the budget process.

"I would like to put to rest what we think is reasonable," he said. "The committee will talk about the whole system of fund balance. Everything is up for discussion."