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Williamsport City Council will look at a resolution to approve a proposed memorandum of understanding between the city and River Valley Transit Authority on shared services.
Kris Black, city information technology coordinator, told the public works committee this week the agreement would be for larger projects between the city IT department and the authority's and for those with skill sets that the city has and the authority does not and vice versa.
"When we need extra hands and extra eyes or when one of us decides to take a vacation and there's coverage for that person who is away and also for some of the other professional services such as the electricians," he said.
The city has an electrician but the authority does not and the authority has mechanics and the city does not.
The entity will be compensated for whatever the salary plus benefits is for that time.
There will not be any mixing of funds and the money will be kept track of for proper reimbursement. That was assured following a question by Councilman Randy Allison.
Moving forward, a year from now, the memorandum will be reviewed to renew it or not.
The pattern of work may be periodic. One week may be a few hours and then for a month nothing happens, according to Black.
For example, if Black was on vacation and there was an issue Josh Warfel of RVTA would have to come in. Likewise, if Warfel was not available Black might be called on.
The city will keep track of the time and then the city will bill RVTA for whatever time is spent at the correct pay rate.
The difference with not contracting out to third party sources is the familiarity with each software system among the city and authority IT professionals.
An IT employee also is working for the police department and he would be incorporated in any of this exchange. Councilwoman Bonnie Katz, committee chair, wanted to ensure no department would consume most of the labor and time of any one of the shared employees.
The vote on the memorandum is expected tonight.