City of Methuen Master Plan

Public Facilities and Services
The City of Methuen is relatively state-of-the-art in terms of the technological infrastructure as well as
the technological services it provides. In 2005, the Information Technology Department completed the
following:
• Updated the City website
• Installed citywide telephone system (all phones and controllers are from the same vendor)
• Upgraded infrastructure of municipal buildings to support new telephone and data requirements
• Installed citywide fiber network allowing unlimited growth for data, voice and video
• Maintenance and upgrades to city desktop personal computers
• Installed with Treasury Department, a new Tax/Collections System
• Provided new security from spyware
• Maintenance upgrades to the control room for city cable channel
• On-going performance upgrades of the network
• Upgraded firewall software
• Increased city web site content and provide new links to give citizens easier access to services
• Provided on-going improvement in Disaster Recover Plan for city’s critical data
FUTURE
PLANS/NEEDS
Short Term
The Information Technology Department has the following short-term goals:
• Complete design and analysis for a cash receipts (point of sale) system
• Add necessary hardware to citywide fiber optic infrastructure for video security
• Improve software for channel 8 broadcasts
• Analysis of new building permits system for building, conservation and health
• Maintenance and upgrades to network, city desktop PCs, city servers, City Recovery Plan
and make frequent database backups
Long Term
• Developing a plan on how to maximize usage of the citywide network and website could be
a long-term goal.
Home for Historical Collection
The City has a large and varied collection of historical artifacts including artwork, statues, articles of
clothing, maps, etc. and needs a place to store and display these. In the spring of 2006, the Mayor
appointed a Task Force to look for a home for the historical collection.
FUTURE
The Mayor’s Task Force has identified several potential sites and is in the process of
conducting a preliminary analysis of their appropriateness and feasibility for housing
the City’s historical collection.
PLANS/NEEDS:
UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
The Methuen Department of Public Works is headquartered in the Searles City Hall Building and directs
and coordinates the work of six divisions. It employs about 90 people. Under the Public Works
Director are the City Engineer, the Superintendent of Water Distribution, the Superintendent of Water
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