Twilight Zone: Fitchburg Websites

There is little more embarassingly tell-tale about a city's pride than a cursory look at official or quasi-official websites. More embarassing than wearing last year's couture to the Golden Glove awards. As our websites are our most public face, and often the first interaction a prospective visitor (or homebuyer)has with the city, wouldn't it be nice if our municipal information was kept as up to date as possible?

Here are examples of what I turned up on a quick search engine excursion this evening.

Fitchburg Public Schools have a beautiful and informative website.
However, we note that the school committee information is woefully out of date. The membership roster is incorrect, and the latest meeting minutes posted are April 3, 2006 - now almost ten months.

What's up?

Fitchburg Airport site contains dated material as well on its Events page, dating back to August, 2006 and promoting a History Flight in August, 2006, as well as the Vans Warped Tour event, August 2006, and a FlyIn in September, 2006. One does note the weather page, courtesy of NOAA, which is timely.

Even the Fitchburg Art Museum Events page returns as the latest news "Opening Reception, Sunday October 1."

DiscoverFitchburg.com, the flagship site of the Fitchburg Economic Development Office and Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority seems to have called it quits in July, 2006, and has posted a notice that they "are rebuilding our website in order to offer up-to-date information about the projects of the Fitchburg Economic Development Office and Redevelopment Authority, as well as information pertinent to local business and community interests." We look forward to that pertinent information. The sooner the better, as what benefits Fitchburg as a whole benefits us each individually.

The big - and very pleasant - surprise is the recently updated information at the OFFICIAL website of the City of Fitchburg, MA:

I found the 2007 Appointments page up to date, along with the current City Council meeting agenda, Legislative Affairs Committee Agenda, even the front page touts the current search for a treasurer, announcement of the Special City Council Meeting February 6th to fill the At-Large council position vacated by now State Rep. DiNatale.

Digging will turn up a few out of date items, but while the site could be more attractive and modern-looking, as well as more useful, the basic information contained there is less dated than at any time in recent memory.

Kudos to the whomevers - David Streb, I believe? - responsible for the recent maintenance.

One might hope that the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority / Economic Development folks, Fitchburg Schools, Fitchburg Airport and Fitchburg Art Museum will follow the example.

After all, you never know who's looking.

Shalom