Summary
 

The Town of Landover Hills, Maryland began addressing the Year 2000 issue in December of 1997, and is confident that the Town's will be able to continue to provide reliable services without interruption into the year 2000 and the 21^st Century.
 

The Town is not unique in having to deal with the Year 2000 issue. We are coordinating with utility companies, government agencies and commercial businesses to share information and proactively prepare for the turn of the century.
 

Due to the magnitudes, complexities and interdependencies involved in the Year 2000 issue, there are no guarantees that every problem will be found, corrected and tested prior to January 1, 2000. However, the Town is focused on having critical operating and business systems Year 2000 complaint, and will have contingency strategies in place to deal with any problems that may occur.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Statement of the Issue
 
 
 

This issue stems from the old computer programming practice of using only the last two digits of the year in date information to save space in memory. The 19 (as in 1999) was just assumed and not stored as part of the date.
 

As a consequence, when the date January 1, 2000 appears, those programs that use the 2-digit year will interpret the 00 from 2000 as 1900. Depending on the operation being performed, this can create significant problems, such as erroneous computations and proliferation of bad data throughout an organization's databases.
 
 

Action Plan
 

The Town of Landover Hills has been working on addressing the year 2000 issues since December of 1997 and has made significant progress in either replacing or upgrading systems to be Year 2000 compliant. Our action plan includes the following steps.
 

• Access both operational and administrative support systems to identify ones that could be affected by the Year 2000

 
• Evaluate the magnitude of the problem for each of the systems identified

 
• Determine if the systems are "mission critical" and develop a priority for addressing them in order of their criticality.

 
• Correct and/or replace those operational and administrative support systems that are not Year 2000 compliant

 
• Test and verify systems to be Year 2000 compliant

 
• Develop contingency strategies for delivery of critical services.

Status
 

Town Information Technology
 

In December of 1997, prior to the formation of the Compliance Plan, the Town decided to upgrade the Town's computer systems by replacing some of the Town's hardware and software (the "Technology Upgrade"). The Technology Upgrade includes replacing some of the Town's personal computers, and replacing some of the application software.
 

Implementation of the Technology Upgrade began in December 1997 and has been completed. The replacement dates of various Town equipment are shown below.
 

Equipment Completion Date
 

Replacement of two (2) 486 personal computers Completed 12/97 and 3/99

Replacement of operating system for personal computers Completed 12/97 and 3/99

Upgrade of accounting software Completed 8/98

Upgrade of payroll software Completed 8/98
 

The hardware and software that have been installed are classified as Year 2000 compliant, as that term is defined by the vendor on each respective hardware and software vendor's website. The remaining three (3) 466 personal computers that have not been replaced, have been tested to ensure that they will make the date change to year 2000 as well as subsequent leap years. One computer will make the date change by itself, the remaining two will need to be set, after the new year, as per the manufacturer's instructions.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Building Facilities, Town Equipment and Town Services
 

The Town is currently on schedule in the evaluation of whether there exists Year 2000 processing issues related to embedded chips in Town equipment. Town equipment includes, for example, photocopiers, fax machine and the like. The Town is in the process of receiving confirmation from its vendors the compliance status of its equipment. Below is that list.
 

Equipment Status
 

Optic Pro Scanner Compliant

Hewlett Packard CD Writer Compliant

Hewlett Packard Printer Compliant

Brother Fax machine Compliant

Sharp Copier Pending
 

Equipment Status
 

Panasonic Printer Compliant

Southwestern Bell Phone System Pending

Mitsubushi Television Pending

Daewood VCR Pending

RCA VCR Pending

York Heating and Air Conditioning System Pending

Ericsson GE Police Radios (6) Compliant

Epson Printer Compliant

UMAY Scanner Compliant

Brother Fax 770 Compliant

AT&T Phone Pending

AT&T Answering Machine Pending

Lucent Technologies Answering Machine Pending

Targetron Radar (2) Compliant

Decatur Radar (1) Compliant

MPH Industries Radar (1) Compliant

Police On-Board Computers Compliant
 
 
 

Third Party Interdependencies
 

The Town is currently on schedule in the evaluation of Year 2000 processing issues related to third party interdependencies between the Town and its vendors and suppliers. Questionnaires are being sent to key vendors and suppliers, or their web sights are being accessed for "Compliance Plans", to ensure that their service to the Town will not be disrupted due to any Year 2000 processing issues that they may encounter. The Town is assessing the responses to these questionnaires as they are received and will monitor the status of each key vendor and supplier through the century date change. Below is a list of major suppliers and their Y2K status if known at this time.
 

Agency Status
 

Pepco Ready

Washington Gas Ready

WSSC Ready

Bank of America Ready

Prince George's County Ready

Comptroller of the Treasury (Maryland) Ready

ICMA Retirement Corp. Ready
 
 
 

Contingency planning for third party interdependencies is discussed below.

Contingency Plans
 

As provided in Chapters 533 and 534 of the Maryland Annotated Code, a contingency plan of action"...specifies actions that shall be taken if remediation fails or is not completed by December 31, 1999." The Town of Landover Hills as well as Prince George's County, utility companies and surrounding jurisdictions have been preparing contingency plans for a variety of scenarios.
 

The two major factors influencing contingency planning are the uninterrupted availability of electrical power and internal failures of information technology systems or products, to include hardware, software, programming code or date sensitive embedded chips. The Town's contingency plan will provide a brief description of the problem, action to be taken and responsible department.
 
 

CRITICAL
 

FUNCTIONS, MITIGATING ACTIONS CONTINGENCY PLANS RESPONSIBLE

EQUIPMENT AND TOWN DEPT.

OPERATIONAL AREAS
 

Commercial Power Work closely with local power Purchase generator to Administrative

Company, Pepco, to ensure minimal provide emergency or Public Works

probability of power failure. backup power
 
 
 
 
 

Police Transportation Contact equipment manufacturers Have backup vehicles and Police

to ensure equipment is not sensitive equipment available in the

to Y2K related problems; ensure event of primary equipment

that equipment is in excellent failure. Include personal vehicles

operating condition And non police vehicles, if

necessary.
 

Police Communications Work closely with manufacturers Develop alternative communications Police

of all police radio equipment to ensure plans with other local police

that all equipment is in top working agencies to serve as back-up in case of

condition and will not be impacted by primary system failure

Y2K related problems.
 
 
 

CONTINGENCY PLAN AND MITIGATING ACTIONS TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE IMPACTS ON CRITICAL AND NON-CRITICAL TOWN FUNCTIONS, EQUIPMENT AND OPERATIONAL AREAS

IN PRIORITY ORDER
 
 
 

CRITICAL
 

FUNCTIONS, MITIGATING ACTIONS CONTINGENCY PLANS RESPONSIBLE

EQUIPMENT AND TOWN DEPT.

OPERATIONAL AREAS
 

Public Works Transportation Contact manufacturers to ensure Use alternate trucks in the Public Works

that essential public works event of primary equipment

equipment is not sensitive to Y2K failure.

related problems; ensure that

equipment is in excellent

operating condition.
 

Telephone System Contact manufacturer to ensure In the event of power failure or Administrative

that phone equipment is not equipment failure run single/ non-

sensitive to Y2K related problems electric phones or temporarily use

cell phones.
 
 
 

NON-CRITICAL
 

Computer Software Inventory and review all software Be prepared to operate manually

programs to determine if they are for a reasonable period of time Administrative

Y2K compliant. If not, determine

need to replace or modify. Test

software if possible.
 
 
 

CONTINGENCY PLAN AND MITIGATING ACTIONS TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE IMPACTS ON CRITICAL AND NON-CRITICAL TOWN FUNCTIONS, EQUIPMENT AND OPERATIONAL AREAS

IN PRIORITY ORDER

NON-CRITICAL

FUNCTIONS, MITIGATING ACTIONS CONTINGENCY PLANS RESPONSIBLE

EQUIPMENT AND TOWN DEPT.

Street Lights Ensure all lights operate Prepare for lighting failures; Police

efficiently. police will provide increased

security; public should be made

aware of the inconvenience of

having no lighting.
 

Traffic Signals Work closely with State Have additional police officers Police

Highway Administration to on duty Decemebr 31, 1999 and for

ensure that signals are in good several days after. Obtain back-up

working order. Stop signs for use in the event

of signal failure
 

Miles Terminal Work closely with state police Ensure citizens are aware of Police

and PG County Emergency alternate means of reporting

Operations to ensure a low emergency conditions to LHPD

probability of equipment in the event of 911 system failure.

failure.
 

Fuel Supply System Work closely with commercial Fill all vehicles on or before 12/31/99.

providers to ensure uninterrupted Make arrangements for backup fuel supply in the

supply of fuel. event of equipment failure by primary

supplier.

FUNCTIONS, EQUIPMENT AND PRIMARY IMPACT ON TOWN ANALYSIS

OPERATIONAL AREAS OPERATIONS
 

Commercial Power Power failure could result in loss of heat and Town has little control;

light for government buildings, businesses and Pepco is doing everything

dwellings. Possible to ensure uninterrupted supply of power; minor power outages possible
 

Police Transportation Failure of patrol vehicles and police emergency It is unlikely that all patrol vehicles

Vehicles to operate would serious impact Police or other emergency vehicles in the

Department's ability to provide security for Police Department will be

Town residents and businesses. non-operational; fuel supply should be reliable.
 

Police Communications Failure of County dispatch system and vehicular It is unlikely that all modes of

or personal radios will severely degrade quality communication will fail

of police operations within the Town simultaneously. Cooperation between various police agencies will be emphasized.
 

Public Works Transportation Failure of refuse trucks to operate would seriously It is unlikely that all refuse trucks

degrade Town Public Works services and possibly will be non-operational; fuel supply

create health problems should be reliable.
 
 
 
 
 

FUNCTIONS, EQUIPMENT AND PRIMARY IMPACT ON TOWN ANALYSIS

OPERATIONAL AREAS OPERATIONS
 

Traffic Signals Commercial power failure could result in Commercial power failure will

non-operational traffic signals owned by SHA require manual traffic direction by

Causing traffic control problems police officers
 

911/ Miles Terminal Failure of these systems which are operated Loss of these systems will degrade

Communication Systems by State Police and Prince George's County police operations

will result in an inability of the Landover Department will be able to provide

Hills Police Department to obtain information security for Landover Hills. Citizens

on motorists and will make it difficult for can use alternate means of

Citizens to report emergencies. communications to report emergencies
 

Fuel Supply Failure of commercial and County owned It is unlikely that both commercial

storage and distribution systems to function and County fuel systems will be

properly could result in non-operational Police non-operational simultaneously. All

and Public Works equipment Town vehicles will be filled and should be able to operate for a reasonable length of time.
 

Phone System Failure of phone system would make Non-electric phones and cell phones

communication difficult between Town and other can be used for communication.

agencies as well as residents.
 
 

FUNCTIONS, EQUIPMENT AND PRIMARY IMPACT ON TOWN ANALYSIS

OPERATIONAL AREAS OPERATIONS
 

Computer software Difficulty with software could impede efficient Financial software has been tested

Government operations, especially with respect satisfactorily so that we are confident

to financial matters. that there will be no negative Y2K impact. Non-financial software could impede efficient operations, especially if sustained.
 

Street Light Impact will be on safety and night time visibility All power provided by Pepco.

Town has little control. Unless problem persists, it is sustainable.
 

This page will be updated as new information becomes available.