After months of renovation and consultation, the town’s web site has a brand new design, one that can be described as more colorful and user-friendly
The website was relaunched at the beginning of the month with a new user interface created to help those search for departments, information, or upcoming events and meetings.
Town Manager Michael Borg said the old site did not provide such access and that it was time to replace it after a lack of updates.
“We were looking at the old one and it didn’t have the functions or searching abilities,” Borg said. “It did not have a dedicated job vacancy module or updated information.”
The new web site provides a more streamlined approach. At the top of the site is a large search bar, atop a photo of different sites around town, such as the downtown business district. Below this are tabs for online paments, permits, job openings, Big Red 311 (to report a problem in the town), emergency alerts, and economic development. There are also spotlights for town-related updates, news, and a complete calendar of meetings and events, such as at Richards Memorial Library.
The web site also includes links to the town’s social media pages. Meeting agendas and minutes—a common complaint from residents about the old site—are easier to access. There are links for business owners, residents, providing relevant information.
“The web site compliments our social media pages,” Borg explained. “It gives a fresher feel to the whole thing.”
The construction of a new site has been a priority for Borg. The town allocated $60,000 from Free Cash for the site’s redesign. According to Borg, $53,000 of the allotted amount was spent on the project, with the remainder going back to Free Cash. CivicPlus has helped other municipalities create and host town and city websites.
“CivicPlus, the company who helped with creating the old web site, helped us create the new one,” he said. “They said the old site did not have the needed resources.”
As for feedback, Borg said he hadn’t heard much, but he can confirm from two individuals that they think the website is excellent.
The new web site can be located at https://www.nattleboro.com/.
