Official village Web site set for March

MILLERTON -- Village Trustee Yosh Schulman said he was not disappointed that no one from the public attended Wednesday’s night’s meeting about the village’s new (though yet to be completed) municipal Web site.

"This meeting was supposed to be about seeing if we could get volunteers to help get the initial articles and content going," Schulman said.

Schulman said the site, one way or another, will be officially launched in March.

He previewed the site, which has a significant amount of content and a very organized design, for The Millerton News. On top of the site is a picture of a tree-covered hill, with a rustic "Village of Millerton" logo in the blue sky. There are sections that include information about the village, a message "From the Mayor," village news, departments and committees.

Schulman said other information on the Web site will include information and forms from Village Hall, a contact list from the village, a community bulletin board, pictures and other information.

"Hopefully we can also get the village’s code book online, but that is a very technically intensive operation," he said.

The Web site is designed with what is known as a content management system called Joomla that allows users to simply type in and enter stories into the Web site by a click of a mouse.

"It allows for different users to update the site with new information," he said. "I would love it to be simple enough to allow the clerk to be able to handle this. In the same regards, if there is a lot to be done, it would make sense to find someone who has the time without overburdening our own staff. But in the beginning to get the site going it won’t be necessary. When the site is up and running and when we find out how much is involved with it day to day, then we’ll have to readdress it."

He said that while Amenia and Pine Plains have had their own official Web sites for quite some time, Millerton fell behind because of a general resistance to change.

"[The current] systems have been in place for so long [people] are very comfortable and to change something, sometimes it’s hard to get that first foot out the door," Schulman said. "If people who make it happen are not interested in making it happen, it doesn’t happen."

Schulman said he is still looking for volunteers to help with the Web site. For more information, e-mail Schulman at yosh@villageofmillerton.com.