{"id":96815,"date":"2026-02-21T01:48:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T04:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/894277237"},"modified":"2026-02-21T01:48:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T04:48:08","slug":"tech-troubles-cost-montclair-2-3-million-after-multiple-outages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/21\/tech-troubles-cost-montclair-2-3-million-after-multiple-outages\/","title":{"rendered":"Tech Troubles Cost Montclair $2.3 Million After Multiple Outages"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"newspack-popup-container newspack-lightbox newspack-popup hidden newspack-lightbox-placement-center newspack-lightbox-size-full-width newspack-lightbox-close-button-background \" role=\"button\" id=\"id_460981\" data-segments=\"53071\" data-frequency=\"0,0,1,day\" data-delay=\"3500\">\n<div class=\"newspack-popup-wrapper \" data-popup-status=\"publish\">\n<div class=\"newspack-popup__content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"newspack-popup__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center is-image-fill-element has-white-background-color has-background\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-283dcaa2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-769d0143 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-be-the-one-who-knows-what-s-happening-in-town\"><strong>Be the one who knows what\u2019s happening in town.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Join 15,000+ readers getting trusted local news and can\u2019t-miss events every week.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-opt-id=13626428  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"280\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/montclairlocal.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/laptop-subscribe-image.png?resize=280%2C350&amp;ssl=1\" alt class=\"wp-image-659530 size-full\"><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p> <button class=\"newspack-lightbox__close\" aria-label=\"Close Pop-up\">    <\/button> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"newspack-popup-container newspack-lightbox newspack-popup hidden newspack-lightbox-placement-center newspack-lightbox-size-large \" role=\"button\" id=\"id_492718\" data-segments=\"53339\" data-frequency=\"0,0,0,month\" data-scroll=\"19\">\n<div class=\"newspack-popup-wrapper \" data-popup-status=\"publish\">\n<div class=\"newspack-popup__content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"newspack-popup__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-65f7058e wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-stretch is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3f01f30c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"h-you-saw-it-on-social-now-get-the-full-story\">You saw it on social. Now get the full story.<\/h3>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Join 15,000+ locals who rely on our fact-checked reporting\u2014free in your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p> <button class=\"newspack-lightbox__close\" aria-label=\"Close Pop-up\">    <\/button> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>After its computer network, including the 911 system, failed multiple times over six months, Montclair Township is replacing 33 back-end devices in an approximately $2.3 million systemwide upgrade, the township manager said. <\/p>\n<p>Of the town\u2019s 33 servers, switches and firewalls, 28 were \u201cpast their useful life or compromised,\u201d Township Manager Stephen Marks told the town council this week. <\/p>\n<p>window.zone_load_1262213566 = function(z, d) { if (!d.count) document.getElementById(&#8216;zone_load_1262213566&#8217;).style.display = &#8216;none&#8217;; }; <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a network modernization project,\u201d Marks said. \u201cSo, if approved, the work should be done in the next six months. And the town will have a modern computer network. The current system is subject to failure. And there have been several computer, telephone and 911 failures in the last six months. So, this would rectify that.\u201d <\/p>\n<aside> <\/aside>\n<aside> <\/aside>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-opt-id=663815871  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/montclairlocal.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Stephen-D-Marks-Budget-Presentation-scaled.jpg?resize=780%2C520&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Stephen D. Marks\" class=\"wp-image-660762\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Township Manager Stephen Marks presents to the Montclair town council\u2019s Finance Committee Feb. 12, 2026. (MATT KADOSH\/MONTCLAIR LOCAL)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-contract-ok-d\">Contract OK\u2019d<\/h2>\n<p>Council members approved the monies by a 6-0 vote Feb. 10, awarding the contract to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.millenniuminc.com\/about\">Millenium Communications Group<\/a> Inc., of East Hanover, for $2.35 million. <\/p>\n<p>window.zone_load_1041570041 = function(z, d) { if (!d.count) document.getElementById(&#8216;zone_load_1041570041&#8217;).style.display = &#8216;none&#8217;; }; <\/p>\n<p><strong>ARCHIVE: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/montclairlocal.news\/2024\/06\/how-montclair-failed-to-implement-mfa-until-cyber-attack-in-2023\/\">How Montclair Disregarded Warnings to Upgrade Protections Against Hackers<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMillennium Communications Group Inc. (MCG) will deliver a comprehensive, enterprise-grade modernization of Montclair\u2019s public safety and municipal technology infrastructure, encompassing network core and access switching, next-generation security, wireless connectivity, backup and disaster recovery, server and virtualization platforms, power protection, and structured infrastructure remediation across all designated facilities,\u201d the firm\u2019s proposal says. <\/p>\n<p>window.zone_load_1532839334 = function(z, d) { if (!d.count) document.getElementById(&#8216;zone_load_1532839334&#8217;).style.display = &#8216;none&#8217;; }; <\/p>\n<p>The work includes \u201credundant power components,\u201d backup schedules, retention policies and encryption settings, the proposal says. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-mayor-very-necessary\">Mayor: \u2018Very Necessary\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a heavy note to have to put in,\u201d Mayor Renee Baskerville said. \u201cBut I think it\u2019s very necessary, even in terms of some basic things like security.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>window.zone_load_1808043749 = function(z, d) { if (!d.count) document.getElementById(&#8216;zone_load_1808043749&#8217;).style.display = &#8216;none&#8217;; }; <\/p>\n<p>Deputy Mayor Susan Shin Andersen approves. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have had several issues with emergency calls,\u201d Shin Andersen said. \u201cSo, to me it seems like well worth the money to be spent to keep our systems upgraded.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>window.zone_load_1901986138 = function(z, d) { if (!d.count) document.getElementById(&#8216;zone_load_1901986138&#8217;).style.display = &#8216;none&#8217;; }; <\/p>\n<p>The township had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile\/100064540965947\/search\/?q=phone\">notified<\/a> residents on Nov. 22, 2025, of an internet and phone outage impacting the Municipal Building and on Jan. 21 of an outage impacting 911 calls, which officials then said in a Facebook post had to be rerouted to neighboring towns. <\/p>\n<p>First Ward Councilor Erik D\u2019Amato said the township did not anticipate having to spend the funds. But a recent study uncovered the need, he said. <\/p>\n<p>window.zone_load_1431255928 = function(z, d) { if (!d.count) document.getElementById(&#8216;zone_load_1431255928&#8217;).style.display = &#8216;none&#8217;; }; <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe had not really maintained these systems over some years as well as they should have been done,\u201d D\u2019Amato said. \u201cThat\u2019s very frustrating, especially after the cyberbreach that happened.\u201d <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2023-cyber-incident\">2023 \u2018Cyber Incident\u2019<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img data-opt-id=425828042  data-opt-src=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/montclairlocal.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/2C967444-E80F-44AE-B971-45AA3CF1FDE3.jpeg\"  decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20100%%20100%%22%20width%3D%22100%%22%20height%3D%22100%%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%%22%20height%3D%22100%%22%20fill%3D%22transparent%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E?resize=500%2C333&amp;ssl=1\" alt class=\"wp-image-478121\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hackers struck Montclair sometime between May 22, 2023, and June 1, 2023, shutting down basic town services. (Image generated by Adobe Firefly\/File.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In 2023, <a href=\"https:\/\/montclairlocal.news\/2023\/06\/montclair-experiences-cyber-incident-from-cyber-criminals-spiller-says\/\">hackers struck<\/a> the township\u2019s systems, seizing key files and shutting down basic services for weeks after the town failed to implement basic security software, an <a href=\"https:\/\/montclairlocal.news\/2024\/06\/how-montclair-failed-to-implement-mfa-until-cyber-attack-in-2023\/\">investigation by Montclair Local found.<\/a> As a result, the town sent&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclairnjusa.org\/News-articles\/News\/Notice-of-Data-Security-Incident\">letters<\/a>&nbsp;to an unknown number of residents warning that their personal data, including social security numbers,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/montclairlocal.news\/2024\/04\/montclair-cyber-attackers-accessed-some-residents-social-security-numbers\/\">had been compromised<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>window.zone_load_25106213 = function(z, d) { if (!d.count) document.getElementById(&#8216;zone_load_25106213&#8217;).style.display = &#8216;none&#8217;; }; <\/p>\n<p>Asked about the failed maintenance that prompted the planned $2.3 million in upgrades, Montclair\u2019s former information technology director, Tony Fan, declined to comment. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have no comment,\u201d Fan said in a brief phone call to his office at Verona Township, where he now serves as information technology director. \u201cThat happened after I left, so I have no idea.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>window.zone_load_2040778569 = function(z, d) { if (!d.count) document.getElementById(&#8216;zone_load_2040778569&#8217;).style.display = &#8216;none&#8217;; }; <\/p>\n<p>Township records obtained by the Local show Fan worked for Montclair July 2015 to December 2025 for an annual salary of $136,599, and that he resigned. His LinkedIn <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tonyfan\/\">profile<\/a> says he started the new Verona job in December. <\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Marks did not respond to requests by email and phone seeking comment on Fan\u2019s role. <\/p>\n<p>window.zone_load_948556244 = function(z, d) { if (!d.count) document.getElementById(&#8216;zone_load_948556244&#8217;).style.display = &#8216;none&#8217;; }; <\/p>\n<p><em>Email reporter Matt Kadosh at <a href=\"mailto:matt@montclairlocal.news\">matt@montclairlocal.news<\/a><\/em> <\/p>\n<aside> <\/aside>\n<section id=\"block-49\" class=\"below-content widget widget_block widget_text\"> <\/section>\n<section id=\"block-48\" class=\"below-content widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p class=\"has-dark-gray-color has-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-7e7ed84dfb9a5762392ff5056363a058\"><strong>Before you comment on Montclair Local<\/strong><br \/>Comments are moderated. Montclair Local reserves the right to delete or close comments on any story at any time. Please read our <strong>\u2192<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/montclairlocal.news\/comments-policy\/\"><strong>Commenting Policy<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;before commenting.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; \u00e2\u0080\u0099s public safety and municipal <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> infrastructure, encompassing network core and &#8230; upgrades, Montclair\u00e2\u0080\u0099s former information <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> director, Tony Fan, declined to &#8230; he now serves as information <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> director. \u00e2\u0080\u009cThat happened after I &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-96815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96815"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96815\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}