Website facelift in the works

WINSTED — A redesign of the town’s website is under way, according to Selectman Glenn Albanesius, who is part of the project.The website, www.townofwinchester.org, originally went online in 2002.“The major complaint I have heard from everyone is that the website is outdated and has not been kept current,” Albanesius said. “It’s still a functional website, but there is a lot of data and information on there that is old. I know that the town boards and commissions have tried to keep the website current, but if you go through it there is a lot there that should not be there anymore.”Currently on the website, under the Town Manager section of the Government portion of the website, Wayne Dove is still listed as town manager.Under the Special Events section, while Laurel Festival information has been recently updated, both the Gator Parade and Summer Concert Series sections have not been updated in two years.In the Meetings section, there is only a listing for a public hearing that occurred last Jan. 10.According to Albanesius, the website design will be updated along with its sections.“The website will have sections on it for out-of-town visitors, businesses and residents,” he said. “There will also be a section where people will have a chance to take a video tour of the town. We also want to put on the website a section for resident services. This will be a section where, instead of residents having to come down to Town Hall and ask questions, they will be able to go to the website to look at the answers.”Albanesius said he is working with The Computer Company of West Hartford, which is currently hosting and originally designed the website, on the site’s redesign.He said he is also working with Town Manager Dale Martin and Purchasing Agent Mark Douglass.Albanesius added that photographer Lara Green would be taking new photographs of the town for the website.As for the cost of the website redesign, Albanesius said nothing has been set in stone, but that he may propose up to $4,500 to pay for work undertaken by The Computer Company.“But nothing is definite yet,” he said. “Any funding proposal may or may not have to be approved by the Board of Selectmen. But it’s a continuation of an already existing contract.”In any case, Albanesius said a redesign of the town’s website is very much needed.“The town’s website needs to provide a service to local residents that has to contain accurate and pertinent information,” he said. “It also has to be marketable. When people log on to the website, it’s their first impression they have of the town. We need to have a positive impression of the town as much as possible.”