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THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2000 <br />the Southside CDBG project in the current year. Vice-Mayor Teague then asked about capital <br /> <br />expenditures shown for Public Works. Mr. Towamicki commented on a number of items, including <br />heating and ventilation system improvements at the Municipal Building, restroom renovations at the <br />City Garage, improvements in the traffic signal system and street signage work. <br /> <br /> The Vice-Mayor then asked about the status of the City's fiber optic SONET system and the <br />budgeted funds for this project. Mr. Mike Scaffidi, Telecommunications/Traffic Signal Coordinator <br />for the City, stated that the City had been notified of the award of a $50,000 grant for this project <br />from the Center for Innovative Technology, and that it was proposed that the City would add $75,000 <br />to this amount in the new fiscal year, to carry this project forward. Mr. Scaffidi stated that a total of <br />$125,000 was budgeted for the project, and that the additional funds proposed would provide for <br />elements of the project not eligible for grant funds. He also noted that the budget proposed for the <br />coming fiscal year would allow for completion of most of the system planned, including the basic <br />ring structure. Mr. Scaffidi then went on to describe numerous features of the system that would be <br />constructed, including transceivers that would allow installation of advisory units for motorists, an <br />enhanced control system for the City's electrical grid, a fail-safe synchronized traffic light system, <br />and special optical nodes, called OC-12's, that would help provided interconnectivity among all the <br />City schools. Mr. Scaffidi noted that very substantial savings could be achieved through the system <br />in the future when the City decided to provide for its own PBX telephone system, citing potential <br />annual savings of at least $120,000 over current costs, saying that the savings would likely be even <br />greater. Mayor Crabtree noted that some other communities had installed such systems and provided <br />access to residential customers. Mr. Scaffidi stated that this could be done here, but that it would be <br />expensive and there would be no revenue to support the expense. Council Member Roop asked again <br />about whether the financial savings from the installation of the City's own telephone system might be <br />realized in the coming year, and Mr. Scaffidi responded that this element of the project would require <br /> <br /> <br />