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Date: 7/19/2021
EASTHAMPTON – On July 15, Easthampton officially upgraded their website to give users better accessibility to the city’s personnel, services and departments.
Easthampton’s Municipal Clerk Lindsi Mailler led the project over the course of 17 months with the help of residents, city departments and website developers.
“We originally formed a website design group with community members, City Council members and other leadership,” said Mailler. “Due to the processes, funding, and timing, we had to cut the group short, ensuring we created a shell for the website with CivicPlus.”
According to their website, CivicPlus is a platform that includes website content management, agenda and meeting management, parks and recreation management, citizen request and work order management, employee management, routine and mass notification software, and low-code development software. The company has provided integrated technology solutions for over 4,000 local governments over 20 years.
Among the improvements for the Easthampton site is a search bar on the landing page that assists with site navigation. The site is also easily accessible for those with disabilities, and visitors can see the latest city news in a carousel format. A request tracker to report potholes and street light outages will be available, and users will have the ability to receive official city meeting notices. Based on public requests, residents can sign up for notifications related to the city by categories of interest through text or email.
According to Mailler, the biggest hurdle when creating this improved website was ensuring that it was user-friendly. She described the old website as being outdated for both staff and the public.
“We have community and staff used to finding things in multiple places and streamlining these services to better serve our population got tricky at times,” said Mailler. “But I trust we have found the best places for all services.”
The website also features links to the city’s new social media accounts and provides translation in several different languages, along with “detailed” government information, information on officials, meetings, city departments, city parks, local ordinances, maps, and online payment options that can be easily accessed by visitors.
“As an employee and community member, it is a pleasure to be launching a website that is accessible for all,” said Mailler.
The clerk added that she is looking forward to reconvening with community members, city councilors, and other leadership to discuss the future of the website and adjust the needs as they move forward. To continue these discussions, Mailler has formed a team of eight superusers, herself included, to receive continuous input and training with the latest content and design.
“I have learned – and hope to continue learning – more of what our community needs from local government regarding services and transparency in which we can offer through our website,” said Mailler. “Technology is forever changing and updating, and I believe we have seen the need more during the pandemic than ever to get up to speed with it.”
Anyone who has suggestions or comments to improve the site can send them to Mailler at lmailler@easthamptonma.gov.