NEW SHARON – After a few questions, the majority of 32 residents voted to spend up to $10,000 to fix the town’s computer software system at a special town meeting held Friday evening.
In late October when the town’s computer system’s server crashed, it temporarily took with it two months’ worth of data, including tax bill information and vehicle registration renewals. At the time it was discovered that the records hadn’t been backed up properly over a two-month period.
Early attempts to retrieve the data failed. Another company was consulted and agreed to see if the data could be restored.
The estimated cost to restore the data is $4,000. A new server to replace the old one that crashed is estimated at up to $3,500. The recommendation to store the data at another site will probably bring the estimated total to $8,000, Board of Selectmen Chair Lorna Nichols said Friday night.
A few questions from residents sought to clarify the town’s computer system needs. The question was called to a vote and approved by more than two-thirds of the voters. Within 15 minutes, the majority of voters approved the expenditure.
Nichols said afterward she will immediately call the computer company to get things rolling. It is expected to take a full week to retrieve and upload the missing data into the TRIO program on a new server.
Nichols hopes to have everything up and running by the week of Nov. 23.
