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BLOOMINGDALE - Boro hopes to boost Web site
(by Deborah Walsh - Staff Writer - August 13, 2008)
BLOOMINGDALE - Borough officials are contemplating how to better utilize and enhance the borough’s Web site, bloomingdalenj.org.
The borough’s webmaster, Robert Kelly of the Denville-based BEKI Services, was invited to a recent Borough Council meeting to discuss the municipality’s Web site. BEKI designed the borough’s Web site and provides Web hosting and management services to many municipal entities. The borough pays BEKI $60 annually for hosting the municipal Web site and additional fees when it wants the webmaster to complete work relative to the Web site.
Mayor William Steenstra recalled that when he began his first term as a councilman in 2000, Borough Clerk Jane McCarthy was the only one who had a borough e-mail address. Somewhere along the way the borough acquired a webmaster and a Web site, he said.
Steenstra said he receives complaints and suggestions from residents about items that should be included on the Web site.
Kelly said he has not received complaints about the Web site despite the ease at which people can air their concerns. The Web site contains a box that can be checked off by clicking and then his e-mail address will appear. Users are then able to e-mail Kelly complaints and suggestions. Kelly indicated that he inherited the Web site from a predecessor and that he, specifically, did not design the borough’s site.
"The Web site is the most fiscally economical way to reach people. Recreation has been very successful in touting its programs and accomplishments on the Web site," said Kelly. "We try to do the most on the Web site for the least amount of money."
Kelly said he receives information from McCarthy and from Passaic County to display on the Web site, which contains a very robust community calendar. Kelly indicated that although he routinely cleans up the Web site, information has a tendency to spread out all over.
Kelly said he and Borough Administrator Ted Ehrenburg have discussed that it would be in the best interest of the borough for the Web site to be reorganized. A key to the revamping is to determine what information is important and then prioritize what should be displayed on the site, he said.
Kelly said the posting of meeting agendas and meeting minutes has been mentioned as a priority. Additionally, the posting of forms that can be printed for the convenience of the public has also been strongly suggested, he said.
Councilman Bernard Vroom said he would like to see zoning maps and ordinances available for viewing on the Web site. This will enable residents to familiarize themselves with zoning ordinances before they bring an application before the Planning Board, he said.
Kelly said General Code/E-code provides municipal ordinances at its site and probably has a more accurate and updated listing of ordinances than exists in most towns’ code books. McCarthy said she has already asked the company for an estimate and it is the borough’s goal to have a link on the Web site that can be clicked to gain access to the borough’s ordinances, he said.
Borough Administrator Ted Ehrenburg said it would be very helpful for residents to be able to access municipal ordinances online. The borough’s office staff spends a lot of time looking up ordinances in the borough’s code book and then copying the ordinances and forwarding the ordinances to those who have requested a copy.
Additionally, it would also be helpful for forms to be available on the Web site, which will negate borough employees from having to send copies to residents. If forms for things such as dog permits and garage sales could be accessed online, it would save borough employees time, he said.
Ehrenburg said he would like to see significant changes to the Web site’s structure.
"Knowledge is power and maybe we could reduce some of the friction caused on chat rooms," said Ehrenburg.
Kelly said he would give the borough a discount price for adding agendas and minutes to the Web site because of the importance the governing body members, borough employees and members of the public have placed on viewing these items on the Web site.
When the public was asked for input, Linda Shortman of Kampfe Lake said she had looked for meeting agendas on the Web site only to find agendas that were a year old.
"I agree with Ted Ehrenburg, that you will be spending a little money to save a little money. A lot could be done to educate people online. You could do a lot of public relations online. Dan Hagberg (borough construction and zoning officer) must spend half his time telling people things that they could look up online," she said.
Karen Labazzetta of Woodward Avenue suggested that emergency messages be posted on the borough’s Web site, such as school closings and cancellations due to snowstorms. Councilwoman Jennifer Altfield recommended that police post the emergency alerts because the police station is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while the borough hall is closed on weekends.
Ehrenburg said he would discuss with Kelly the baseline cost to update the Web site and the a la carte prices for adding items to the site. Ehrenburg said Kelly has designed Washington Township’s award-winning Web site.
"If you turn Mr. Kelly loose, you will marvel at what’s accomplished," said Ehrenburg.
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