Great Town Websites

What are the key features to a superlative Town Website?

Page 2

Key Features

Empower and educate citizens

Raise the level of government accountability

Provide financial and secondary market disclosure information

Deliver government services with increased efficiency

Encourage communication

Attract business and tourism

Striving for Online Excellence – Municipal Advocate Vol 24 No 2

Page 3

Empowerment

Make information available to residents

Meeting agendas (and meeting packets)

Meeting minutes

Meeting broadcasts

Budgets with backup detail (and historical archiving)

Online directories

Page 4

Government Accountability

Financial statement audits

Operating statistics

Executive updates

Meeting minutes

Annual citizen survey (plus, post results)

Post fiscal goals

Page 5

Communication!

Newsletter from Town Manager informing about upcoming town events/meetings and happenings (mentioned repeatedly in survey)

Webcasts of Town Meeting and Board Meetings

Email and online feedback forms

Suggestion box

Page 6

Services and Efficiency

Go online rather than stand in line Online bill payment (taxes, Park & Recreation, water bill, parking tickets,

landfill stickers, etc.) Many local governments invite and accept requests for proposals

through their Web sites, increasing the efficiency of government business.

Check status of permit applications Road construction updates Water hydrant flushing schedule Water use restrictions “Online Constituent Services tool” (see Quincy): a “one-stop-shop” form

that allows residents to input request or report information – routed to appropriate department, with tracking of request available

Page 7

Miscellaneous

Town Code

Town Warrants (historical archive)

Town Election results (with historical archive)

Guide for new residents

FAQ – administrators at Town Building know the most common questions and answers.