The Keyser City Council is working on getting its books straightened out. On Wednesday, the council voted to terminate its agreement with Mountaineer Computer and instead hire NPO Resources of Silver Spring to work with staff and get them up to speed on the Accufund program.
“As everyone is fully aware, we have had accountable issues in our finances for quite some time, part of this because we still have people that are not fully trained on Accufund to understand all of its elements and what it will do for us,” said Mayor Randy Amtower.
The Accufund program was purchased through Mountaineer Computer in Lewisburg. Accufund supports technical service as well as hardware and IT issues. Mountaineer Computer has been unwilling to let anyone else work on the system, according to Amtower.
“In our old system we utilized our hardware technical service from local entities. Document Solutions of Cumberland supports the IT hardware issues for the police department,” said Amtower.
In utilizing NPO, the city could choose whoever it wants to do its hardware work.
Amtower believes the city was not getting its money’s worth out of the system.
In less than 10 months with Mountaineer Computers, the city spent $16,977.40 payable directly to Accufund.
That money was mostly spent on service, assisting with compiling reports, technical assistance and reloading software, according to Amtower.
“I just think it is an exorbitant amount of money that we have spent in 10 months. In addition to that, we have also spent with Accufund itself $5,058.75 for a yearly charge of maintenance updates.”
Mountaineer Computer charges a minimum of $600 for a trip to Keyser, including a $155 per hour labor rate, and also receives a yearly maintenance fee of $3,240. The company also takes awhile to return phone calls, according to Amtower.
“There is no way we can get these books straightened out when you can’t get a hold of the people that are supporting your system,” said Amtower.
In contrast, NPO Resources charges a $144 per hour labor rate and suggested using computer support from Accufund. Support from Accufund is $3,580 per year.
The contract with Mountaineer Computers is up at the end of the year. In terminating the contract, the city will not be refunded for the last two months of service, according to Amtower.
In other news, because of issues with handicapped parking, the council voted to put the issuance of all handicapped parking placards on hold until a decision on who should get the placards is made. Delegate Gary Howell suggested looking into the American Association of State Highway and Transportation official standards on handicapped parking.
Per vote of the council, the next council meeting will be held Nov. 7, instead of Nov. 9, at 6 p.m.
The council also voted to close an alley off South Mineral Street that is involved with the property of John Hale and to close an alley that runs from West Piedmont Street parallel to Mineral Street on a property that abuts the Keyser Libby LLC property. There was a question as to a right of way easement on the Libby property, according to Amtower.
Source:http://times-news.com/local/x1415463290/Keyser-council-wants-to-avoid-spending-an-exorbitant-amount
