Rome, NY, Addresses Data Breach Exposing Contractor Personal Information During a recent Rome Common Council meeting, city officials confirmed a data breach involving sensitive personal information for 36 employees of Central Paving, a city contractor. The exposure was discovered on February 11 when resident Blair Genther found payroll documents containing the data in the council’s agenda packet. City Corporation Counsel Gerard Feeney acknowledged Genther’s alert, stating the documents were removed from the city’s website within two hours of notification. The contractor was informed, and the city is working with Central Paving to notify affected employees. Officials have also consulted the New York State Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Labor for guidance on next steps, including a formal request to Google to scrub remaining traces of the documents from the internet. While Feeney did not disclose whether the city carries insurance for data breaches, he emphasized the city’s swift response. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about municipal data security and transparency in handling contractor information. In the same meeting, the council approved several resolutions, including $1 million for the Kessinger Dam repair project, a $3 million state grant application for Black River Boulevard improvements, and the sale of multiple city-owned properties. Residents also raised concerns about snow removal delays impacting downtown businesses and recent pedestrian safety issues on city streets.