NORTHFIELD — After a yearlong effort to update the design of the town website, northfieldma.gov has a fresh look.
The updated version of the CivicPlus website went live a few weeks ago, just about a year after the Selectboard announced the $27,000 project. The town website had not been updated in about 10 years.
“The new town website has been live for a couple weeks,” Selectboard Chair Barbara “Bee” Jacque told fellow board members and town employees last week. “It looks a lot better.”
The town updated the website in an effort to make it cleaner and clearer, easier to navigate and compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The new website includes the same content, with information about the town’s boards and committees, departments, town services and more.
Selectboard member Sarah Kerns said the feedback she’s heard from residents is that the calendar is not as visible. On the old website, the calendar was near the top of the page, right under the navigation banner, whereas on the new version, it is still near the top, but under a bunch of navigation icons. Site visitors have to scroll to find the calendar.
Town Administrator Andrea Llamas said that in the process of moving content to the new website, information for the notification system was lost, so residents who wish to be alerted to new postings on the town calendar, meeting agendas or minutes will need to sign up again.
“It couldn’t carry over, so if you used to get news or alerts to get the agendas or minutes for specific meetings, please go in. There’s a button that says, ‘Notify Me,'” Llamas said. “Please sign up again.”
Jacque said the new sign-up page is easier to navigate for users who want to choose to get notifications about specific boards or committees.
“It’s easier to figure out than the old one,” Jacque said. “The old one used to be this huge, long list; people weren’t quite sure what to pick. Now it’s a lot more straightforward.”
