Too Much Paper? Village May Consider Laptops or Tablets for Trustees

Should provide its trustees with laptops or tablets instead of packet after packet of paper?

That is the question that grew out of Caledonia Finance Committee members' discussion of a request for $843 to buy a laptop for new Village Administrator , who will use the computer to work at home.

The committee recommended the full board approve the laptop purchase, but the request led to a broad discussion about the need for more technology for village trustees. The village board, which meets next Tuesday, will deliberate the spending measure. 

Janiuk, who was hired away from Sturtevant in June, said the laptop will allow him to do more and more often for the village.

"So I can work on the weekends, so I can access the computer (network) while I'm at home," he told the committee. 

Caledonia Police Chief Toby Schey told the committee that commanders in his department have remote access to the village's network.  

"I have a detective sergeant that does reports from home on his own time because of it," he said.  

After hearing of the ways village employees are using technology to do their jobs remotely, Village President Ron Coutts suggested the committee begin considering technology for the village board. Laptops or tablets would alleviate the huge amount of paper elected officials amass, Coutts said. 

"I'm wondering if the time that it takes to put … documents together, are we better off just getting a laptop," Coutts said. 

Another factor in deciding to purchasing laptops for the board is the cost of paper and maintaining printers and copiers, committee members said. 

Coutts indicated that the issue will be put on the next finance committee agenda for formal deliberation.