Tensions Rise During Tullytown Council Meeting

Last night in a small town shadowed by a growing landfill, the standard monthly council meeting quickly became a heated debate among audience members and council personnel – this time over the use of budget money and preferences of technology.

All council members gathered Tuesday night, with the exception of Council Member E.F. Armstrong, at 500 Main Street to conduct what would appear to be a fairly light agenda in their public meeting hall, until one specific item was brought to the attention of the nearly 30 audience members.

Council members who currently fulfill their duties using first generation iPads are now facing technology hiccups (related to lack of memory) and feel its time for a change, an update if you will. The decision they faced last night: whats next? iPads or laptops? For residents, the decision wasn’t that easy.

“What’s the deal with the iPads?,” Christine of Kenwood asked. “It seems like everything is new, new, new for council, like we have been getting new toys for council and then not putting the money towards the residents.”

“Well I’d rather have a laptop,” said Council Member Mary Ann Gahagan.

The tension in the air was eminent as residents showed their frustration by putting their head down and saying ‘really?’ under their breath.

Daniel Doyle, the acting chief of police for the borough and interim coordinator, gave the rundown of cost differences to the room. “The cost is very similar,” he said. “However if you are looking at laptops, the brand we have recommended (an HP with a 15.6” screen) will cost $7,431.”

The council without much agreement across the audience, agreed to purchase 9 HP laptops. After the IT department succeeds in transferring all data located on the current council iPads, the iPads will be sold to the highest bidder, in hopes the purchase of the iPads will help off set the nearly $8000 dollar price tag of new laptops.