Heathcote seeks computer

Press, 11 March 1983, Page 6

Heathcote seeks computer

The Heathcote County Council may be using a computer for most of its administrative tasks by the end of the year. 'The council is receiving advice on the type of equipment best suited to its needs in processing wages, ratepayers’ accounts and engineering inventories. Last year it set aside $55,000 for a computer but did not buy one. A similar amount would be budgeted for in the 1983-84 estimates, said the County Clerk, Mr K. D. Stills. He hoped a machine would be in use later this year. Staff reductions would not result, he said. A meeting of the council's finance and administration committee yesterday was told by Professor B. J. Clarke, of the University of Canterbury accountancy department, to shop around

before buying a computer.

Professor Clarke said he had made a price comparison for the Kaiapoi Borough Council when it was considering buying a computer. For systems with a similar capability quotations ranging from $41,000 to $112,000 had been received. Prices for software and servicing had also varied widely. Retirement All new council employees may face compulsory retirement when they reach 60. The committee recommended that a clause allowing staff to stay on at the request of the council should be removed from employment conditions. The committee's chairman, Cr T. P. Wills, said the council’s employment conditions mirrored those of the Public Service except for the retirement clause. From

March 10 the clause should be dropped, he said. Cr O. T. Alpers disagreed. He said a “small degree of flexibility should be kept.” Cr Wills said the policy would apply only to staff taken on from the time the motion was ratified by the council. Two present staff members aged more than 60 would not be affected. Refreshments Councillors, not ratepayers, should pay for any aftermeeting drinks, it was agreed. However, when the council entertains guests the cost of food and refreshments will be met from the estimates. Cr Alpers said he believed Heathcote was the only council where councillors paid their own liquor bills. “I am quite happy with that but what is the general feeling?" he asked.

The present policy was backed by Mr Stills, who said: “You cannot have anyone putting the slur on you for wasting the ratepayers' money." Debt write-off A total of $3680 owed to the council in outstanding accounts was written off at the advice of its debt collector. The council was told it had little chance of recovering the money for electrical work and services supplied, including electricity and water supply and special reading fees. Court costs accounted for $193 of the total. One bill was seven years overdue. Most of the debts were for small sums. Mr Wills said, “Probably over the years we have spent more in postage and typists’ time in trying to recover them."