After months of planning and labor, the improved version of The Town of Tyngsborough, MA Government Online launched on December 4.
This new version of Tyngsboroughma.gov plays a critical role in expanding the town’s digital platform and presence to residents and businesses. The changes, mostly to technology and work flow are courtesy of a new web based, open-sourced content management system (CMS) called word-press.
Until today the town website, originally designed by high school students with basic HTML/CSS, was updated by the webmaster who also oversees cable access programming. The old system did not properly manage the content on the site and content was not regularly updated. The new system allows the town’s staff to work more efficiently and effectively, while providing the most current news and information. This transition required the Office of Media Programming and web development staff to literally rebuild every department page from scratch while maintaining the old site.
It is our hope that this new system will not only provide a more flexible and reliable web-presence but allows the flow of town news and information to the public faster.
The Office of Media Programming has been working on several projects over the last few months in hopes that it will enhance interaction between the town and the public. As part of the rebuilding and expansion process we are launching, testing and re-introducing several new services and seeking feedback:
Examples of these are:
Search Feature:
You can find info on the website with the search engine located below the navigation links.
Rotating news/events carousel on the homepage:
This will highlight important information the public needs to know and will be updated frequently. Today on the homepage we are featuring: The intro to this website, an H1N1 online resource guide, a holiday safety article from Tyngsborough Police Chief Mulligan, and information on The Festival of Trees.
The Tyngsborough H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Online Health Resource:
A resource page has been produced for all you need to know about H1N1 Influenza and how you can stay healthy. It will also include future clinic dates and pre-registration forms.
Google Town Calendar:
As part of the recent technology upgrades, we have implemented ICAL technology through google.com to post various town events including meetings. Residents can sync with this calendar at home.
Tyngsboroughma Twitter.com Feed: This is a beta project implemented during the development of the new dot-gov website. The town is using this service to update residents on various town related events as it happens including traffic updates. Currently it is a feed but we hope to make it interactive. Residents and Businesses may interact and follow us using our twitter.com handle @Tyngsboroughma.
Tyngsborough GIS (Geographic Information System): In an effort to increase the information that is provided via the internet, The Inspectional Services Unit, Assessing Department and the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments have completed the following new mapping database. Tyngsborough GIS will provide for more timely updates and a more complete set of information. An added feature is the ability to directly access Property Record Card information and zoning.
We launched this photo section in May during Memorial Day Weekend. It is a photography sharing site posting photos taken by the Office of Media Programming at various town events. We plan on creating a group to help promote and obtain awesome local Tyngsboro photography taken by you feel free to add us as a contact,
UniBank Gold Online Payment Center:
The Office of The Town Collector has partnered with UniBank for an upgraded new secure online payment portal for the following transactions: Excise, Personal Property, Sewer, and Real Estate. Save paper, gas, and time by filing online 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
WebPro Property Assesment from Patriot Properties
The database contains Property Record Cards from the Board of Assessors. As of Nov. 25, the data contains the values are from 2009. Patriot Properties aims on getting the new approved data for 2010 from the Commonwealth over the next few weeks.
Research & Development for 2010
Mailing List Subscription:
The Town is actively looking at ways of reaching to our residents and businesses faster by potentially creating a mailing list letting them know when Tyngsboroughma.gov has been updated.
Online Video-On-Demand:
With the recent broadband upgrades town-side at 25 Bryant Lane, Tyngsborough TV is in the early planning stages by potentially placing meetings online via video-on-demand after meetings are aired on cable. Stay tuned for details.
This project could not have been possible without the assistance and support from the newly adopted web-development team at Kompleks Creative Group of Durham, N.C. This team led by Tobias Rose, principal of Kompleks Creative, spent endless hours in developing several mockup designs and implementing this new system. Again many thanks.
As you can imagine with something new there are bound to be a few glitches. We hope to resolve those ASAP so please do not be alarmed, but do let the dot-gov team know. We always welcome your comments and feedback.
Should you have any questions, comments, concerns, or just to report a broken link, as always you can send an email directly to rcamille@tyngsboroughma.gov.
About The Town of Tyngsborough, Massachusetts USA:
Incorporated in 1809 Tyngsborough, MA is a growing residential community 30-miles north of Boston and on the New Hampshire/Massachusetts state line conveniently positioned in the heart of the Merrimack Valley with a progressive and evolving town government. On the web at: http://www.tyngsboroughma.gov
Written by Rony Camille | Media Program Director
Town of Tyngsborough Office of Media Programming November 25, 2009
