Town to Fund MUNIS Analysis Through Salary Savings

A portion of the employee salary savings in the town budget will go toward an investment analysis of the tax collection module.

The analysis and subsequent training will cost just under $2,000, and be conducted by MUNIS.

Ruth Robertson, who serves as the town's tax collector, said that an expert will come into her office and observe how the system is being used by the town.

"(The analysis) will document any of the functionality gaps that we might be facing, and recommendations for redesign," she said. "There could be something in the system that we are not using that we could benefit from."

Town Administrator said that the MUNIS program wasn't available to the town five years ago.

He said process starts with the MUNIS expert coming in, looking at what the town is doing and asking questions about the town needs and concerns.

Its followed by the same person coming back for a day of training.

Currently, there are about $8,000 of salary savings in the budget.

Selectman Roger Hohenberger voted against the program, saying that the goal is for MUNIS to come out and try to sell the town additional software.

Robertson said that there was no direction with the department's annual MUNIS upgrades, and that the program would help with that.

"I think it's a wise investment," she said.

Sullivan said that travel expenses for the MUNIS employee to come to the town will add a few hunded dollars to the cost, based on federal reimbursable mileage rates.

The board members who voted in favor of the proposal, such as Phil LoChiatto, said that they were trusting the judgement of Robertson on the matter.

"I do know that we have department heads for a reason," LoChiatto said.