Technology Committee

Overview

The Town Board approved the formation of a Technology Task Force and the adoption of a mission statement at its December 8, 2021 Meeting. The members were appointed to the Task Force at the February 9, 2022, Town Board Meeting to serve at the pleasure of the Town Board.

Mission Statement: North Castle Technology Task Force

The Town Board shall form a Technology Task Force to evaluate and advise it on the Town's use of technology and recommend improvements to further engage residents, disseminate information, and increase cybersecurity. The goal of the Technology Task Force will be to provide a set of recommendations to ensure a reliable and secure technology foundation that can optimally address North Castle residents' needs.

There are six areas of focus the Technology Task Force will form recommendations around:

  1. Communication Channels - methods of disseminating information efficiently and effectively, including exploring less traditional channels of communication and allowing information to reach people where they are. This includes a relook at the Town's digital and web properties.
  2. Resident Engagement - digital tools and platforms to enable citizens to climb the 'ladder of participation", thus allowing the Town to address residents' needs optimally.
  3. Responding to Misinformation - methods to use to sense and respond to mis/disinformation
  4. Cybersecurity, Data Governance, Data Privacy - establishing robust data governance processes and data privacy policies across our town operations including considerations on how we collect, store and use residents' data to increase their trust. Includes managed and unmanaged devices.
  5. Ways We Work - increasing the efficiency of how we operate across the town by using technology, including using collaboration tools and developing skills and talent to be comfortable working with new technologies.
  6. Success Metrics - methods for using technology to gauge resident experiences with our town services and best prioritize our efforts to improve.

The membership of this task force shall consist of five members of the public - all of whom are residents of the Town of North Castle - as well as four Town representatives. Each Town Department Head will have the opportunity to engage in the recommendation development. Meetings will occur twice a month for 6 to 8 months on weekday evenings in-person with an option to join over Zoom, with an expected time commitment of 4 or more hours a month.

The Technology Task Force shall include in the strategic plan a phasing of implementation actions in the form of 6-month, 12-month, and 18-month recommendations. It is appropriate and encouraged for the task force to obtain the input of town residents through the process of information gathering.

Process & Timeline for Task Force

  • Expected to operate for 6 to 8 months in 2022.
  • Meetings will occur twice a month on weekdays, with an expected time commitment of 4 or more hours a month.
  • Technology Task Force shall create a strategic plan phasing the implementation actions in the form of 6-month, 12-month, and 18-month recommendations.

Members

  • Mike Akavan
  • Claire Lovell
  • Jared Nussbaum
  • Brian Singer
  • Noi Sukaviriya
  • Gladys Vera
  • Kevin Hay, Town Administrator
  • Adam R. Kaufman, AICP Director of Planning
  • Alison Simon, Town Clerk
  • Saleem Hussain, Town Board member - Ex Officio

Survey

The Technology Task Force has released a Resident Engagement Survey to receive feedback on how the Town can improve communication to its residents. Take the Survey.