TO:������������������������
INFORMATION RESOURCES OF MAINE (InforME) BOARD
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FROM:������������������
CARRIE GOTT, INFORME STAFF
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DATE:�������������������
April 25, 2000
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RE:������������������������
MINUTES OF THE APRIL 25, 2000 InforME BOARD MEETING
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ATTENDANCE:
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Secretary of State Dan A. Gwadosky, Chair of the Board
Deborah B. Carson, Financial Operations Officer, Judicial
Branch
Tamara Dukes, President, New England Interactive (NEI)
Major Jeffrey Harmon, Department of Public Safety
Janie Higgins, Public Member
Marilyn Lutz, Maine Library Association
Michael E. Pizzo, Representing a User Association
Anne Schink, Maine League of Women Voters
Lesley Sprague, Maine Association of Realtors
Richard Hinckly, Bureau of
Information Systems
STAFF:
Carrie Gott, Staff to InforME Board
Todd Tolhurst, Staff to InforME Board
John Rusinak, Staff to InforME Board
Rebecca Wyke, Chief Deputy, Office of Secretary of State
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I. Connectivity
- State
employees have been experiencing problems with connecting to the state Web
site server due to Internet routing issues. InforME and BIS have worked
diligently to address the problem and have decided to connect an
additional T1 to run between InforME and BIS, thus allowing for a direct
link for state employees. InforME is also analyzing its ISP of Sprint link
and reevaluating whether it is in fact the most appropriate provider.� The current T1 will remain dedicated to
the transfer of data only. Webmasters are currently utilizing this data T1
to upload to their Web sites, but will be able to more to the new T1 when
installed.
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- Testing
connectivity with non-government users. InforME will be requesting users
to test the amount of time it takes to load the site. Data received will
help determine whether the site is within the recommended loading time, or
if it must be re-worked to meet these guidelines.
II. Revenue goals have been exceeded this month. One new
customer did purchase several months worth of data, which created an unusually
large billing cycle. After June, the opt-out will limit the InforME customer
base, but InforME should continue to serve most of the high-volume regular
customers.
III. Marketing
- Now
that InforME has passed its one-year anniversary (April 15), external
marketing efforts will increase, focusing on user groups, associations,
community organizations, and business committees. There will be more
advertising done to promote services where possible. The goal will be to
reach both citizens and user groups. The marketing plan will help
strategize marketing endeavors.
IV. Web design projects
- (Please
refer to General Managers Report for project specifics.) The InforME
design team has experienced an increase in Web design requests with the success
of the new Maine State site design.
V. Project matrix (please refer to the General Manager�s
Report matrix)
- The
�Janus� NT server is still at BIS. InforME is waiting for the completion
of the Legislative session, and for the T1 connection to be complete
before moving Janus to InforME.
- Rapid
Renewal - InforME plans to draft the technical standards for exchanging
data, and dispersing funds from bank to the participating municipalities.
- UCC/Corp
bulk data is now available to customers.
- Fax-back
system for motor vehicle data is currently being developed. InforME
continues researching the details on the telecom side before building the
technical end.
Programming:
- InforME
has created a mirror server to back up the www.state.me.us server, which will be
housed at BIS.
- OLR:
prototype of online license renewal form is complete. Currently in the
process of negotiating data delivery and credit card transaction
mechanism.
- Credit
Card server is installed to automatically authorize credit cards. This
will automate IF&W transactions very soon.
- Installed
Java server engine software. This will enable customers to customize the
state web site, and is useable for future web applications.
VI. Other
InforME is building an online
class that will be available on the Maine state site. In addition, InforME will
build an application that allows Webmasters the ability to put small databases
online.
InforME designed and posted a banner
advertisement on Mainetoday.com to promote the purchase of fishing licenses
online. It has proven to be very successful placement since the advertisement
paid for itself in increased transactions.
Question: What are the hit statistics for the Maine site
since InforME took management?
Answer: Difficult to measure because InforME, Webster and
Janus are currently separate. Once combined, it will be easier to measure the
number of visitors to the site.
VII. Board vote
- SLA
UCC/Corp � Interactive (see copy of SLA update)
This InforME service will open the UCC/Corp database to
business customers. Data will be updated on a daily basis, versus what�s
available now, which is updated once a month.
- CEC/Batch
Corporate & UCC Records
Will be offered at a price well below the national average.
- Interactive
Corporate Certificates of Good Standing
The short-form and long-form will be available. An
authenticating logarithm, as well as a graphical representation of the State
Seal will enable users to print certificates from their own printers.
Potential customer base for CEC services is very large. Many
of these services have been requested for years. In fact, the need for this
service was what prompted the genesis of InforME.
Vote: Services and pricing passed unanimously by the Board.
VIII. Web portal standards
- InforME
will be creating a Portal Committee to address link discrepancies on the
State Web site. Would like a volunteer from the Board. (Dick Hinkley has
volunteered)
IX.�� Secretary of
State Gwadosky offered a legislative update on pertinent initiatives:
- Internet
Commission Recommendations: Credit card and merchant fee, includes
language for electronic and digital signatures and requires that state
agencies accept credit cards by July 2001. Expect this bill to pass.
- Forms
online: L.D. 180 mandates that all agency forms must be online by June 1st,
2000.
- Laptop
proposal adjusted from a $50 million expenditure to a committee, which
will determine technology needs and make recommendations for the next Legislative
session.
X. Presentations
- InforME
presened to the Board the new Driver Cross Check and Rapid Renewal
prototypes.