The town of Collingwood has launched a new website and public engagement platform at a cost of approximately $45,000.
The site went live last week and officially launched yesterday with a media release sent out in the afternoon and a presentation by Clerk Sara Almas at last night’s council meeting (May 13).
Almas said the site has been several months in the making, and she was excited to see it launch. Almas said the last site was launched in 2008.
The new site is mobile-friendly and meets the standards of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act.
“Our new municipal website is one of the many great steps we are taking to enhance customer service and government transparency in Collingwood,” said CAO Fareed Amin in the media release. “This website will be a reliable resource for news, promotion, and information coming from the municipality.”
The site still provides access to an events calendar, council meetings, agendas, minutes, and an informal news feed. There is also a search function and an interactive development map providing information on pending developments in town.
The new website also includes a public engagement platform called Engage Collingwood. This will be the spot where the town will post surveys and provide opportunity for feedback from residents and members of the public.
“Engage Collingwood was created to improve engagement and to better inform council’s evidence-based decision making,” said Mayor Brian Saunderson in a media release.
Currently the Engage Collingwood page has three surveys, one asking for public input on ways to spend the proceeds of the recent Collus sale, another seeking input on the future of the eco-park at Sunset Point, and a third survey on the town’s Urban Forest Management Plan.
The Engage Collingwood site also includes contact information for each member of council.
According to the media release, comments on Engage Collingwood will be moderated for bullying, threats and inappropriate language. A free account is required for commenting.
