Freeholder Liaison:
David B. Crabiel
Department Head:
Khalid Anjum
The Middlesex County
Information Technology department (IT) internally serves the technology
needs for all Middlesex County offices. IT is responsible for implementing
and supporting all county workstations (hardware and software), local
and area networks, and telecommunication systems.
Department
of Information Technology: Goals, Achievements, Policies, Procedures
and Standards
The Director of
Information Technology manages the County’s computer operations, planning
of technology standards, technical assistance, application systems design
and management, telecommunications and telecommunications infrastructure.
The Department is responsible for providing advice and recommendations
to all County Departments and the Board of Chosen Freeholders regarding
all technology matters. Our mission is to develop strategies and prepare
plans to improve and enhance the IT resources supporting the County
operations.
Our state of the
art telecommunications system maximizes efficiency, cost effectiveness,
and accessibility. This Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides reliable
and cost effective voice and data transport to all County Departments
through the County Administration Building. Our inventory of electronic
data systems (voice is data in Middlesex County) and LAN’s within each
department support and facilitate information processing through application
sharing over the local and wide area network.
The Information
Technology Department supports the all County’s business functions.
These services include Personnel, Purchasing, Fiscal Operations, Budget,
Facilities and Fleet Management, Land Records Management, Surrogates
system Administration, Adjusters System Administration, Law Enforcement
System Support, Jail Management System Support, Communications Management
and other department specific applications. The efficiencies achieved
through the electronic processing of the County’s business transactions
benefit employees, management and the citizenry.
In addition to supporting
all county divisions, the IT department also serves as the support staff
for the Middlesex County Information Resources Management Commission
(IRMC). The IRMC was created on May 1, 1997 by the Chosen Board of Freeholders
with the objective to make the modern advancements in technology available
to its citizens by creating an infrastructure linking all essential
public, government and social services.
New
Systems and Enhancements:
E-Government: The
IT department is evaluating and accessing the use of the Internet and
World Wide Web to bring e-government to the citizens of the County.
This will encourage public-private participation and timely and streamlined
delivery of services to our citizens. The County Intranet facilitates
efficient intra-departmental communication promote an integrated, coordinated
and efficient Government.
We are in the process
of developing e-forms to provide requests for information and online
forms for permits, licenses, registrations and certifications. We are
poised for e-commerce solutions and are working to bring these to fruition.
Integrated Law Enforcement:
The IT Department is in the process of developing an integrated law
enforcement program that will serve the requirements of the Office of
the Prosecutor and the Sheriffs Department. The applications when ready
will have the ability to integrate with the local law enforcement agencies
for the sharing of critical criminal and investigative data.
Video Conferencing
and other Video Based Technologies: The County is currently evaluating
the application of video conferencing technology to further distance
learning and other Video based applications for use in the County.
New Jail Management
Application: The County is currently evaluating a new Jail Management
application for the Department of Adult Corrections. It is anticipated
that this new application will further enhance the operations of this
state of the art correctional facility.
Web Enabled Map
Information System: The IT Department is finalizing the County Clerks
Electronic Map System. The Department has scanned and will make available
over the web all filed Major and Minor Sub-Division Maps within the
County. Web Enabled Land Records Management Project: We are currently
evaluating options to Web-Enable the County Clerk’s Land Records Management
System. This system when complete will provide web access to over 8
Million Land Records that are currently available to the public at the
County’s computerized system.
New Integrated
Payroll and Human Resources Application: The IT Department is scheduled
to start the implementation of a new Payroll and Human Resources Management
System. This system which is expected to be completed by the end of
the year will replace an old DOS based system and will increase the
operating efficiencies of the process.
Standards
Hardware Standards
- Information Technology establishes policies for County agencies and
the definition of special purpose equipment, various types of computer
configurations, server, desktop, mainframe, etc. and the standard configuration
of each CPU, memory, I/O, backup power, etc.
Software Standards
- IT defines how to acquire standard software, software standardization
and the use of special purpose software (i.e., custom), software maintenance
and licensing, training, data migration and software ownership.
Personal Computer
Replacement - Information Technology is responsible for the replacement
or upgrade of personal computers and peripherals throughout the county.
Personal Computer, Software and Data Disposal - Information Technology
is responsible for the disposal of personal computer equipment including
peripherals, software, and data files.
Networking
Network Design and
Operation - Information Technology is responsible for network development
and its maintenance, modification and maximization of operational performance.
The IT Department defines network standards for the County.
Other
Responsibilities:
The Information
Technology Department defines the best practice system development methods,
practices and methodologies to be used for all County systems development
projects. We will also identify various ways to secure information technology
resources.
Universal Electronic
Accessibility - The IT Department describes the responsibilities of
each County agency toward enabling full access to the County’s electronic
systems and services for County employees and citizens.
Software Copyright
Infringement - IT describes for County agencies, their responsibilities
for compliance with copyright requirements of computer software and
associated documentation.
Training and Certification
- We schedule special training and certification programs for County
employees. IT also has a training room to help instruct county employees
in the use of various computer programs and PBX phone systems.
Disaster Recovery
and Business Continuity - We enable the development and maintenance
of contingency business planning and its execution. We clearly define
the required procedures of the State to insure complete preparedness
for data system disaster recover.
Project Management
- We describe for County agencies project management practices that
should be followed for all information technology projects.
Vendor Contract
Management - we manages the IT vendor contracts from concept to contract
close out and establishing requirements, assist the Purchasing Agent
in the selection of a qualified vendor, and reviewing and determining
vendor progress for hardware, software and peripheral equipment.
Configuration Management-
we establishes for County agencies, configuration control of information
technology systems (i.e., hardware and software). We set general standards
for a County agency controlling organization and its oversight over
changes to an established information technology system.
Capacity Planning
- The IT Department describes for County agencies, the steps necessary
to effectively management computer processing capacities and response
time issues to insure adequate computer capacities exist.
Web
Services
E-Mail and Internet
Use by County employees - We are developing for County agencies, the
general rules for acceptable and unacceptable E-mail and Internet use
by County employees, contractors, and sub-contractors. The policy includes
State guidelines for the consequences of misuse and the County’s role
in monitoring of E-mail and Internet use.
Web Site Development
- The IT Department sets general standards for how a County agency develops
a web site with regard to style, layout and content such as the placement
of specific Countywide content (e.g., County seal, contact names and
phone numbers, e-mail address, links to web sites, etc.) and the process
for development of a County web site. Web Site Operations - We define
for County agencies, methods for keeping web site content current and
accurate, determining universal accessibility and ease of use, archiving,
insuring 7 x 24 hours of operation, and security.
Security
Date Security -
The IT Department identifies for County Agencies, specific requirement
for data security, methods for maintaining security, and identifying
those that are responsible for data security and integrity.
Universal Privacy
- The IT Department describes the responsibilities of each department
toward the protection of personal information of an agency’s employees
and the citizens it serves.
