Dekalb county commissioner Elaine Boyer found charging thousands of dollars of personal expenses to county visa card. Do you know who is her right hand man? Did he know about her financial problems?
Saturday, March 22, 2014
The truth will set you free No INTERACT DID NOT REFUSE TO DO THE WORK READ ON
Subject: CAD-to-CAD Interface between Dunwoody and DeKalb County
Good evening Mayor Davis,
I am writing to you in response to a letter received on March 11, 2014 from Mr. Hutmacher outlining the city council’s disappointment in the progress of the CAD-to-CAD interface between Dunwoody and DeKalb County’s CAD systems that AT&T has contracted InterAct to complete on behalf of Dunwoody. (A pdf of this letter is attached)
While I understand the frustration that you, the city council and your city manager have, InterAct is not solely responsible for either the project or issues outlined in the letter. I believe we have demonstrated good faith in trying to get this project completed and we will continue to support our customers, AT&T and DeKalb County, in their efforts to implement the interface.
During the recent city council meeting, Mr. Hutmacher claimed that the CAD-to-CAD interface between the two systems had failed testing and is not functional. This is not an accurate representation of the facts. The interface has passed all functional tests as outlined in the original SRD and has passed all of the additional functional tests following each of the additional six change requests received since we began this project on October 20, 2011. In fact, each of the change requests we have received were a direct result of additional findings uncovered during center-to-center testing and may have been avoided if the project had been properly defined and scoped from the beginning by the City of Dunwoody.
From my experience, not properly scoping a project prior to beginning software development guarantees “scope creep”, confusion, and delayed implementation. Given that InterAct can only provide input of what the CAD-to-CAD interface project could include from the perspective of our own customer’s operational standards, it is clearly the responsibility of Dunwoody to provide clear direction and oversight into their own system so that all parties involved can work quickly to deliver a solution.
Based on an email that we received from Ashley Smith on March 3rd, 2014, there are currently four outstanding issues that were discussed during the Dunwoody city council meeting following the most recent center-to-center testing on February 27th, 2014. I have attached an outline of the outstanding issues for your reference.
For the project to be completed the interface specification must be completely finalized and Dunwoody must take ownership of managing this project to completion. We have also attached a number of supporting documents that InterAct has provided to all parties involved with this project. Included are the following:
· Summary of issues discovered during the February 2014 interface CAD to CAD testing
· History of the InterAct Software Requirements Document change requests
· Summary description of Software Requirements Document changes requested
· Signed copy of Software Requirements Document from December 2011
Sincerely,
John McNulty
President & CEO
InterAct™
102 W 3rd Street, Suite 750
Winston Salem, NC 27101
direct:
Improving the safety and well being of people and their communities
Warren Takes a stand with interact
Letter to Interact
Mr. John McNulty
President and Chief Executive Officer
Interact Public Safety
Global Headquarters
102 W 3rd St., Ste 750
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
RE: Dunwoody-DeKalb CAD-to-CAD Interface Project
Dear Mr. McNulty:
I am writing this letter in hopes that your assistance may improve an exceedingly frustrating and disappointing experience my community continues to have with a project we are working on with your firm.
As a matter of background, in October 2011 the City of Dunwoody transitioned 911 calltaking services from DeKalb County to the Chattahoochee River 911 Authority (ChatComm). ChatComm provides call-taking and police dispatch but DeKalb County continues to dispatch fire and emergency medical services.
Prior to the transition, we embarked on project to connect these two 911 centers through a CAD-to-CAD interface between OSSI Sungard (CAD provider for Dunwoody and ChatComm) and InterAct Public Safety (CAD provider for DeKalb County).
All major development on the interface was completed in early 2012. It is now March 2014 and we continue to face delay after delay in testing to complete this project. The testing phase of the project has been a disastrous set of failures.
The Mayor and City Council are furious that this process has taken several years and is still incomplete. My staff and I have run out of answers as to why this project has been ongoing for nearly three years.
The public pressure has mounted to get this project completed to levels I haven't seen in my 17 years in local government. Frankly, the reputation of the City, our service providers and the vendors responsible for completing the job has suffered mightily. Every missed expectation and additional "bug" in the interface that prevents the system from working properly is growing the discontent astronomically.
I am at the breaking point with my patience with the failure of this interface to work properly. Your immediate attention is critical to bring this matter to a successful conclusion. Sincerely,
Warren Hutmacher
City Manager
Memo to Council dated March 10, 2014
Update on CAD-to-CAD Interface
A center-to-center testing call at the end of February revealed four final challenges from the CAD system update that was completed in February. Following the testing call we launched an action plan to address each of the issues identified and are making steady progress.
One issue relates to fire response zone mapping and staging. As part of the CAD update, an outdated response zone map had been connected to the interface. Rather than staging units from the nearest Dunwoody station, for certain parts of the City, the system was suggesting dispatch from stations further out in the surrounding area. To correct this issue we had to review the code, locate the outdated response zone map, and replace it. The second relates to how incidents on Interstate 285 displayed once transferred to DeKalb. We determined that because these incidents are shared with cross streets (such as I-285 Eastbound / Ashford Dunwoody), the issue was that the"/" character was not transferring correctly. To address that issue, the developers are making additional code changes so the "/" character would be properly translated. The final two issues relate to the transference of certain determinant codes from ChatComm to DeKalb. This issue will be addressed by updating the translation table which connects the two systems. We are working with the developers to determine how long these final changes and updates will take.
All the key parties in the project are focused on the decisive steps for completion so we can surpass the industry standard for call transference.
ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATIONS
In recent days, Council has requested clarification related to the development of the interface. First, regarding who is developing the interface and secondly related to the ability to outsource that development.
Unlike a traditional software project, the City has not hired a software vendor to write code and develop the interface. The interface code is developed by the two CAD vendors. One of which is under contract with DeKalb County and the other under contract with ChatComm. There is no technology vendor that is responsible to the City on this project.
Secondly, it has been suggested that a third party could connect these two disparate CAD systems and develop the interface in a manner that was more efficient. Early in the process the City explored this option. We found a third party software vendor that agreed to develop the interface but the two CAD vendors would not agree to the arrangement. Utilizing a third party developer would have allowed each CAD vendor's proprietary code to be held by a third party and they did not feel comfortable with any level of confidentiality agreements.
Both of these issues highlight the fact that had we been allowed to utilize a third party software vendor, we would have had a party beholden to us to complete the interface. As it is, we have little leverage over the two CAD system providers building the interface. We are forced to allow the two vendors to work together to build the interface using a software requirements document they jointly developed and to which they jointly agreed.
In short, we do not manage the technology or the development of the technology. Staff works diligently with both 911 centers and the CAD vendors to ensure resources are appropriately dedicated to the project and that time and attention is focused on the decisive
steps needed to reach completion.
Mr. John McNulty
President and Chief Executive Officer
Interact Public Safety
Global Headquarters
102 W 3rd St., Ste 750
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
RE: Dunwoody-DeKalb CAD-to-CAD Interface Project
Dear Mr. McNulty:
I am writing this letter in hopes that your assistance may improve an exceedingly frustrating and disappointing experience my community continues to have with a project we are working on with your firm.
As a matter of background, in October 2011 the City of Dunwoody transitioned 911 calltaking services from DeKalb County to the Chattahoochee River 911 Authority (ChatComm). ChatComm provides call-taking and police dispatch but DeKalb County continues to dispatch fire and emergency medical services.
Prior to the transition, we embarked on project to connect these two 911 centers through a CAD-to-CAD interface between OSSI Sungard (CAD provider for Dunwoody and ChatComm) and InterAct Public Safety (CAD provider for DeKalb County).
All major development on the interface was completed in early 2012. It is now March 2014 and we continue to face delay after delay in testing to complete this project. The testing phase of the project has been a disastrous set of failures.
The Mayor and City Council are furious that this process has taken several years and is still incomplete. My staff and I have run out of answers as to why this project has been ongoing for nearly three years.
The public pressure has mounted to get this project completed to levels I haven't seen in my 17 years in local government. Frankly, the reputation of the City, our service providers and the vendors responsible for completing the job has suffered mightily. Every missed expectation and additional "bug" in the interface that prevents the system from working properly is growing the discontent astronomically.
I am at the breaking point with my patience with the failure of this interface to work properly. Your immediate attention is critical to bring this matter to a successful conclusion. Sincerely,
Warren Hutmacher
City Manager
Memo to Council dated March 10, 2014
Update on CAD-to-CAD Interface
A center-to-center testing call at the end of February revealed four final challenges from the CAD system update that was completed in February. Following the testing call we launched an action plan to address each of the issues identified and are making steady progress.
One issue relates to fire response zone mapping and staging. As part of the CAD update, an outdated response zone map had been connected to the interface. Rather than staging units from the nearest Dunwoody station, for certain parts of the City, the system was suggesting dispatch from stations further out in the surrounding area. To correct this issue we had to review the code, locate the outdated response zone map, and replace it. The second relates to how incidents on Interstate 285 displayed once transferred to DeKalb. We determined that because these incidents are shared with cross streets (such as I-285 Eastbound / Ashford Dunwoody), the issue was that the"/" character was not transferring correctly. To address that issue, the developers are making additional code changes so the "/" character would be properly translated. The final two issues relate to the transference of certain determinant codes from ChatComm to DeKalb. This issue will be addressed by updating the translation table which connects the two systems. We are working with the developers to determine how long these final changes and updates will take.
All the key parties in the project are focused on the decisive steps for completion so we can surpass the industry standard for call transference.
ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATIONS
In recent days, Council has requested clarification related to the development of the interface. First, regarding who is developing the interface and secondly related to the ability to outsource that development.
Unlike a traditional software project, the City has not hired a software vendor to write code and develop the interface. The interface code is developed by the two CAD vendors. One of which is under contract with DeKalb County and the other under contract with ChatComm. There is no technology vendor that is responsible to the City on this project.
Secondly, it has been suggested that a third party could connect these two disparate CAD systems and develop the interface in a manner that was more efficient. Early in the process the City explored this option. We found a third party software vendor that agreed to develop the interface but the two CAD vendors would not agree to the arrangement. Utilizing a third party developer would have allowed each CAD vendor's proprietary code to be held by a third party and they did not feel comfortable with any level of confidentiality agreements.
Both of these issues highlight the fact that had we been allowed to utilize a third party software vendor, we would have had a party beholden to us to complete the interface. As it is, we have little leverage over the two CAD system providers building the interface. We are forced to allow the two vendors to work together to build the interface using a software requirements document they jointly developed and to which they jointly agreed.
In short, we do not manage the technology or the development of the technology. Staff works diligently with both 911 centers and the CAD vendors to ensure resources are appropriately dedicated to the project and that time and attention is focused on the decisive
steps needed to reach completion.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Sunday, March 2, 2014
The council's lack of action has placed us at risk and now we had a death Will it change?
The council keeps hearing Mr Hutmacher talk about CAD TO CAD technology THE REAL TRUTH IS CHATCOMM HAS NOT BEEN FOLLOWING PROTOCOL. IT COST A DUNWOODIAN HIS LIFE.
WILL THE COUNCIL DUE WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE ?
DID THE COUNCIL TELL THE CITIZENS CHATCOMM REFUSED TO SEND POLICE TO LAURELWOODS ROADS? THEY SAY IT IS NOT IN DUNWOODY.
DID THE COUNCIL TELL THE PEOPLE THAT CHATCOMM DID NOT DISPATCH POLICE IN THE TIME FRAME WE HAVE IN THE PROCEDURE FOR MS MCQUAIG?
DID THE COUNCIL TELL THE PEOPLE THAT CHATCOMM DID NOT ASK THE QUESTIONS WHILE WAITING FOR DEKALB AS PROTOCOL REQUIRES ?
DID THE COUNCIL TELL THE PEOPLE THAT CHATCOMM AFTER HEARING THE PATIENT WAS NOT BREATHING AND HAD NO PULSE DID NOT INSTRUCT THE CALLER IF POSSIBLE TO START CPR? YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT AND THERE IS MORE TO COME.
THE COUNCIL SITS FROM THEIR PERCH WHILE THE MAYOR BELLOWS" WE WILL NEVER GO BACK TO DEKALB". SOMEBODY BETTER TELL HIM THAT HE LIVES IN DEKALB.
THE FOUR HANGMAN ARE MIKE DAVIS, TERRY NALL, WARREN HUTMACHER AND CHIEF GROGAN. WATCH THEM CAREFULLY
LAST TEST FOR CAD TO CAD FAILED
DISTRICT 3 AT LARGE, JOHN HENEGHAN HAS STATED IT IS ONLY 10% OF THE CALL THAT ARE A PROBLEM AND HE WAS HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE . A DEATH ..OTHER AT RISK
HOW MANY DO WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT? ALL CALLS HAVE NOT BEEN REVIEWED. JUST THOSE THAT PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT
THANK YOU MS. MCQUAIG YOU HAVE GIVEN OTHERS A PLATFORM TO SPEAK.
WILL THE COUNCIL DUE WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE ?
DID THE COUNCIL TELL THE CITIZENS CHATCOMM REFUSED TO SEND POLICE TO LAURELWOODS ROADS? THEY SAY IT IS NOT IN DUNWOODY.
DID THE COUNCIL TELL THE PEOPLE THAT CHATCOMM DID NOT DISPATCH POLICE IN THE TIME FRAME WE HAVE IN THE PROCEDURE FOR MS MCQUAIG?
DID THE COUNCIL TELL THE PEOPLE THAT CHATCOMM DID NOT ASK THE QUESTIONS WHILE WAITING FOR DEKALB AS PROTOCOL REQUIRES ?
DID THE COUNCIL TELL THE PEOPLE THAT CHATCOMM AFTER HEARING THE PATIENT WAS NOT BREATHING AND HAD NO PULSE DID NOT INSTRUCT THE CALLER IF POSSIBLE TO START CPR? YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT AND THERE IS MORE TO COME.
THE COUNCIL SITS FROM THEIR PERCH WHILE THE MAYOR BELLOWS" WE WILL NEVER GO BACK TO DEKALB". SOMEBODY BETTER TELL HIM THAT HE LIVES IN DEKALB.
THE FOUR HANGMAN ARE MIKE DAVIS, TERRY NALL, WARREN HUTMACHER AND CHIEF GROGAN. WATCH THEM CAREFULLY
LAST TEST FOR CAD TO CAD FAILED
DISTRICT 3 AT LARGE, JOHN HENEGHAN HAS STATED IT IS ONLY 10% OF THE CALL THAT ARE A PROBLEM AND HE WAS HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE . A DEATH ..OTHER AT RISK
HOW MANY DO WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT? ALL CALLS HAVE NOT BEEN REVIEWED. JUST THOSE THAT PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT
THANK YOU MS. MCQUAIG YOU HAVE GIVEN OTHERS A PLATFORM TO SPEAK.
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