The Dryden IT department is hoping to secure something they can call their own
IT Manager Roger Nesbitt has approached Council to approve the lease of a 2015 Dodge Caravan over a three year term, something that wasn’t budget for.
It would cost the City roughly $2,200 this year, but would be included in future budgets.
Nesbitt says the shortfall would be addressed by cutting their training budget.
Currently workers in the department use their own vehicles to provide service to more than a dozen facilities.
Other options on the table include maintaining the status quo, sharing resources with other departments or simply hoofing it.
However, cold water has apparently been poured over his request.
Mayor Craig Nuttall says the City simply can’t afford it and notes it might open the floodgates for other departments.
Nuttall brought the issue up with the Dryden Police Services Board Tuesday, thinking they had a spare vehicle for use.
Acting Chief Derek West says they currently have an old Chevy Van.
He says the vehicle is still used on a part-time basis and has seen better days.
West says he values the work of the IT department and he will work with Manager Roger Nesbitt and the City Manager to see if they can’t get something done for them.
Councillor Ken Moss says IT staff don’t put enough miles on to warrant a new vehicle and suggests having that leased vehicle going to another department in return for an older one is one option.
He also suggests exploring the exisiting fleet in the City, something Nesbitt says has been exhausted.
Nuttall notes travel for IT staff only amounts to about 250-kilometres a month.
