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system for permitting and inspections. The most important need that this software will provide is <br />connectivity between various County departments. This is part of the long-range Information <br />Technology plan. Joel Dunn, Chairman of the IT Committee, was present. The staff sent out 22 <br />requests for proposals for the software and received ten responses. The staff is recommending that <br />the Board approve the purchase of permitting and inspections software from ACCELA, in an amount <br />not to exceed $177,222. Additional hardware will be needed to run the software through the <br />telephone system, and a proposal will be brought to the Board after the software is put in place. <br />Complete implementation of the system will take 18 months or less. <br />Joel Dunn, Chair of the IT Committee, said that the IT Committee had reviewed the <br />proposal and worked to try to make sure that the software fits within the overall goals and philosophy <br />that the Orange County IT staff is trying to put together. He said that this package comes as close <br />as possible to a 100 percent fit with the County. The IT Committee believes that this vendor is going <br />to continue to provide the kind of enhancements and increased features that are going to allow the <br />County to do very good things. He was available to answer questions from the Board. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the agenda abstract that mentions that future <br />releases of the product should address the web access limitations. He asked if this was discussed <br />with the vendor and if there were any assurances. Joel Dunn said that it was pretty clearly <br />understood that any software package was going to have to embrace the web. There was <br />assurance that these limitations would be addressed by ACCELA <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about Eden and the fact that they scored high on several of <br />the criteria. Craig Benedict said that when Eden was brought in as one of the finalists, they ranked <br />well on paper and the RFP, but a lot of things were uncovered in the telephone conferences. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked if anyone was using the ACCELA system in North <br />Carolina. Craig Benedict said that no one in North Carolina was using this system. However, there <br />is a system in Bedford, Virginia and the staff took a trip to see the system in action. <br />Commissioner Brown asked how this interfaces with the systems in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, <br />and Hillsborough regarding erosion control, tax assessor, land records, and Register of Deeds. <br />Craig Benedict said that the municipalities did not have these advanced software systems, but there <br />is a mechanism within the ACCELA software that when the County permits something in erosion <br />control, emails can be sent directly from the software package through the Internet to inform them <br />that something is happening. <br />Concerning 911 and the EMS system, the data conversion cost, which is roughly $8000, <br />is going to help the County make sure that every house has the appropriate address. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to <br />approve the purchase of permitting and inspections software from ACCELA, in an amount not to <br />exceed $177,222, and authorize staff to execute all documents associated with the acquisition and <br />implementation. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />d. Use and Access Plan -McGowan Creek Preserve <br />The Board considered a proposal for future public access and use of the McGowan Creek <br />preserve. <br />Environment and Resource Conservation Director David Stancil was available to answer <br />any questions in lieu of the Powerpoint presentation. The recommendation is that the Board gives <br />any revisions or comments to David Stancil. <br />Commissioner Brown said that there should be trash containers and recycling containers <br />on the site. She asked if there was any way to have a telephone. She asked why horse riding was <br />excluded. <br />Conservation Manager Rich Shaw said that the trails in this preserve would be for <br />pedestrians and not horses because there is no connection of properties. <br />Commissioner Jacobs suggested having criteria to determine what is allowed on the trails <br />(i.e., horses, bicycles, etc.). Also, regarding the signage, he suggested that the sign say, "No <br />