Technological innovations will save $10,000 yearly, increase resident access, expand SmartGov
Fort Wayne, Ind. – Today, Fort Wayne City Clerk Sandy Kennedy unveiled her Paperless City Council program. The third phase of Mayor Tom Henry’s SmartGov initiative, the improvements will save money and increase citizen access to local government. Each City Council member will be issued a tablet computer and receive documents electronically. The switch to digital will save the City of Fort Wayne over $10,000 a year in paper and administrative costs and pay for itself within six months.
Additional components of the Paperless City Council initiative include the establishment of wireless Internet access in City Council chambers at Citizens Square and live-streaming video of all council meetings.
"Our Paperless City Council program will save over $10,000 while increasing access and transparency for our residents," said City Clerk Kennedy. "By using new technology and new innovations, we're making our city more efficient, more open, and more accessible than ever before."
“Making government easier is to use is what SmartGov is all about,” said Mayor Henry. “City Clerk Kennedy’s Paperless City Council is a stellar example of how we’re using new technologies and process improvements to cut costs, curb waste and connect residents directly with their elected officials.”
A comprehensive instruction manual will be provided to all council members when they receive their tablet computer, and the city's Information Technology and technical support staff will provide individual training to those council members who request it. The City Clerk will continue to track the program's savings to identify further ways to cut costs.
The Paperless City Council initiatives build on earlier technological improvements instituted by the City Clerk, including online access to council documents, agendas and minutes, as well as live television broadcasts of City Council meetings.
The Paperless City Council program has been in development over the past year in anticipation of the move to Citizens Square.