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SALEM -- The parks department will follow the city's lead in cybersecurity compliance.
In a special meeting Tuesday, the parks commissioners voted unanimously to "recognize the city council's decision" to utilize Struthers-based IT firm ECMSI to meet new state mandated cybersecurity requirements set by House Bill 96 "due to the overwhelming security threats to public funds."
"House Bill 96 is guiding the state of Ohio to put things in place to be mindful and protective of public funds. Our parks department is in agreement with the decision made by city council, and [will] fund our share of the monthly fee of about $274.61 to address any security threats that might occur to the parks department," Commissioner Lori Colian said.
The decision came after an approximately 40-minute executive session for the discussion of contractual negotiations which the commissioners invited Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey, City Service Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello, and representatives from ECMSI to join them.
The special meeting was called at the commissioner's request to discuss concerns surrounding communication and billing practices raised in the parks commission's August meeting. At that meeting, the commissioners said that they felt they were not receiving quotes for equipment and service for review in a timely fashion. They also said they felt the parks department, which functions as a semi-autonomous entity with its own budget, was not receiving adequate communication on the purpose of certain IT expenses from ECMSI, nor regarding decisions made by the city council and administration which impact the department.
On Tuesday, Dickey stressed the importance of obtaining and reviewing a detailed trial balance from the city auditor's office moving forward to help prevent any future confusion regarding the department's expenses. She also stressed that the commissioners should designate someone who will be responsible for following up on any expenses that the commissioners do not recognize or agree with for further review in the board's next meeting.
"It can be wrong. I've had committees that looked at it and said, 'what's this,' and you don't approve it. Then you go find out and bring it back the next month and approve it or not," Dickey said.