New Bern considers taking city aldermen paperless

New Bern, N.C., recently announced its plan to further its digitization efforts, with the city aldermen considering eliminating paper-based meeting packets. According to the Sun Journal, the current board requires copies of agendas, meeting minutes and notes every time it meets. The agenda is also posted on the alderman website, but with limited details regarding agenda items. The news system would streamline both processes, helping provide information to the aldermen faster and give more data to those visiting the site, with less time spent updating it.

"I think automated agendas create tremendous efficiencies," noted Steve Hawley, the communications manager and public information officer for the nearby city of Greenville, which has already implement a paperless strategy. "It has allowed us to do a lot more and in a better way. It has helped the staff's work flow. Building an agenda is a tremendous amount of work."

By investing in the appropriate conversion services and document management software, New Bern could join a long list of other cities that have already embraced the advantages of eliminating meeting packets and other forms of paperwork throughout their administration.