Augusta Township approves contract with CGIS for a new building permit software and module
Augusta Matters by Mayor Doug Malanka
(As published in the South Grenville Journal – Thursday, August 20, 2020)
At its Augusta Council held on Monday, August 10th, 2020, Council voted to authorize the Clerk of Augusta Township to sign a contract with CGIS for a new building permit computer software platform including all modules and plan for an implementation to be coordinated with the Town of Prescott and/or Edwardsburg Cardinal. The motion approved also provided that the first three years of software licensing will be paid from the Municipal Modernization Funding received from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in 2019.
Before bringing the motion to Council, Augusta Township, Town of Prescott and the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal met several times over the past 16 months to explore various areas where common software and tools could be used to provide better service to residents and better collaboration between our three municipalities. Four different software packages were jointly evaluated based on functionality, price and future for the platform. CGIS was selected. CGIS is locally owned, with their main office in Perth, Ontario, is a leader in geographical information systems (GIS). Their software user modules are built around this technology and include: building permits; planning; licensing, bylaw; cemetery management; and economic development. Another advantage of the CGIS platform is that there is a daily interface to the property tax billing software so that the addresses and ownership information can be updated constantly. An on‑line resident/developer portal is in development and will roll out in 2021.
For the present, staff recommended that the Township select CGIS system at a cost of $16,800 and pay a licensing fee of $6,500 per year for use of their building permit and e‑permitting portal software. If all three municipalities move to CGIS, the first‑year licensing fee will be discounted by 30%. Staff also recommended that consideration be given to obtaining additional modules over the next 3 years.
On another subject, the next Augusta Quarterly will be mailed with the tax bills being sent out the 1st week of September 2020. The Quarterly will be for the months of September, October & November.