Stowe to spend more to build a better website

Town IT director Jonathan Thereault told the board that it became clear to him as he was putting together a project scope report to send out to potential website builders that a website of the caliber the town wants far exceeds the funds allocated for it.

Selectboard member Jo Sabel Courtney found shame in the town’s digital game, calling the motley collection of websites “embarrassing,” and said it was about time for an update and should have been done 20 years ago.

The bid proposal request echoes that sentiment.

“The Town’s web presence lacks consistency and is fragmented among multiple domains, content management systems, and branding,” the request reads. “This poses a challenge to Town residents and visitors trying to take advantage of specific town services and or locate and research specific town documents and reports. Many of the existing sites lack a modern feel or management platform, are very text heavy, and have had only minor adjustments since their creation.”

Town manager Charles Safford said the town has multiple websites, and not all of them are functioning very well. He said the Stowe Free Library site, in particular, is “on life support” at this point.

The goal is to unite them all and improve the municipality’s overall visual presence online and create a common platform. For instance, Safford said, if the police department needs to update something and there’s no one from that department available, then someone in the town offices could hop on and make the update.

Stowe town websites

• The main Stowe town website — townofstowevt.org — is the big one, with pages dedicated to every town board and commission, along with meeting agendas, packets and minutes. There are also sections for most town departments that don’t have their own websites, and all those departments’ associated public records, policies and information.

• The town’s public safety website — dps.stowevt.gov — is the go-to spot for the town police, fire, emergency medical services, Mountain Rescue and emergency management departments.

• The Stowe Free Library website — stowelibrary.org — includes the ability to borrow audio books, practice foreign languages, access old issues of the Stowe Reporter, and take online classes.

• The Stowe Parks and Recreation website — stowerec.org — includes links to things like camp programs and Stowe Arena schedules.

• The Stowe Arts & Culture Coalition website — stoweartsandculture.org — includes a calendar of events and links to things art galleries, film festivals, museums and theater organizations.

The money for the website overhaul comes from the town’s capital improvement fund, which is generated with proceeds from the town’s local option tax on meals, rooms and alcohol, so the extra funds for the project won’t be borne by taxpayers.