Comments on: New Town Website Looks Great but Erases History

By: John McKown

John McKown — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 14:53:06 +0000

Pretty sad design work for $15K.

By: Ron Wrucke

Ron Wrucke — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 00:19:48 +0000

The Cape Charles by the Bay site cost $15,000 …. ? …. unbelievable … I need to give up photography and get into the website business ..

By: Mike Killebrew

Mike Killebrew — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 16:40:00 +0000

I went on the Cape Charles Web site and found the Comprehensive Plan and the 1991 agreement easily under "Planning and Zoning." Thank you - indeed, two documents have surfaced, and the story will be updated to reflect that. A search on the website for "Annexation" reveals nothing found, but searching the (misspelled) "Annexaton" turns up one document. The old Town website had six annexation documents, as may be referenced here: http://web.archive.org/web/20131018001736/http://www.capecharles.org/annexation.htm The documented letters regarding former Town Manager Joe Vaccaro have not been restored. -- EDITOR

By: Wayne Creed

Wayne Creed — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 16:05:23 +0000

Although the site design is not really to my taste (I understand it is just following the design standard established by Cape Charles by the Bay, so what are you going do?), the new site is a good move by the Town, and Town Manager Arcos and her staff should be applauded for the effort.

More importantly, this is not really a website, but an application, a content management system that will allow our staff to update the content 24/7, just by using the application’s interface (no coding required). The system also incorporates some nice features, such as the ability to customize email alerts from the Town, based on your own preference. I believe the platform (MunicipalCMS) also allows for immediate pushes to social media such as Facebook and Twitter (once something on the Town site is updated, it also gets published to social media where it can be accessed by the device of your choice, including mobile). So between email alerts and social media pushes, you can get the information without having to browse to the Town’s site.

The parts of the old site that are missing, such as history, can easily be added by our staff. The system allows them to create new pages, and add any new content. The history page is probably on the way, but being a bit more complex, they probably did not want to put the rollout on hold just because it wasn’t ready.

Once concern would be the cost. Not sure how much the initial design cost, but the annual hosting and support fees could add up. It should also be noted that there are other, probably more frugal ways to accomplish what the Town is doing here, such as “relatively” free, open source solutions such as blogging software. The text you are reading right now is produced by WordPress, which can be extended to perform just about everything the new system is performing, for a very affordable price — but that’s all water under the bridge now. If leveraged correctly, the new site should become a valuable and robust asset for Cape Charles. Kudos Heather!

By: Mary Finney

Mary Finney — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 15:00:18 +0000

In response to the above comment, obviously, those who are ignorant of history (willfully or otherwise) are doomed to repeat it. So sorry if the reports of goings on in town seem to some to be “negative” in tone. As a result of good old investigative reporting, we are being told what is actually going on, as opposed to being served up some whitewashed version of events. If one doesn’t like what one is reading here, blame the ones whose actions are being divulged. Verbally “shooting the messenger” here is plainly misguided. Clearly, those who currently hold office in Cape Charles (public servants?) — have no right to withhold information that is and should be PUBLIC RECORD. And sure, all those boring old comprehensive plan documents aren’t as fun to read as say, the latest issue of People Magazine, but they are much more relevant to our community and its future than Kim Kardashian’s dramas. Another truism, as long as I’m at it: Knowledge is power — those who have the knowledge have the power, and those who insist on seeing reality through rose-colored glasses are at their mercy. So grow some thicker skin, people, and start choosing truth over superficial spin.

By: Janet Dudley

Janet Dudley — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 14:16:07 +0000

As much as I appreciate your efforts to keep me informed about what is important to the town of Cape Charles and its residents, it seems as though there is more negative than positive input into your efforts. I grant you there are lots of problems in Cape Charles and any other town you live in, but once again you bring up OLD business just about every day. Now as for the new town website, if I want to know something about the comprehensive plan, or what happened in 1991, I can certainly go to town hall and request this information or as you say go on Google and if I need it that desperately pay the $14.95 to see it. As for the emails and letters that were sent that too is OLD business, and while I was here at the time of most of the things you bring up, what is done is done and we need to move forward. As for the website, I don’t know about you but if I read it once, I really don’t need to read it again every day.