Published: April 15, 2008 10:30 am      

Governmenet Web sites serve as 'primary source of information'

Thanks to the power of the Internet, local government is becoming more user-friendly.

Residents now are making fewer trips to governmental offices, with interactive Web sites offering services such as downloadable applications and detailed maps.

And online capabilities are expected to increase in the coming years.

“As the technology improves, and as new information becomes available, we just add it onto our Web site,” said Ben Vinzani, Somerset Borough manager.

Somerset’s award-winning site is prime example of online governmental services.

Zoning and building permits are among the forms available for downloading, along with forms for those who want to report an abandoned vehicle or sign up for a parking permit.

A “business updates” section has detailed information including an Uptown sidewalk replacement job and other pending projects.

Other offerings include borough history and statistics, council meeting minutes, ordinances and a newsletter – content that is typical of many modern municipal Internet sites.

In order to be useful, that content must be updated often.

“There’s probably not a day that goes by that I don’t do something with the Web site,” Jackson Township Manager Dave Hirko said.

Along with the standard online fare, Jackson’s site has some unique features including a “Kids’ Page” with activities for children as well as an honor roll for township veterans.

On that page, residents can download an application for a veteran’s name to be included on a planned monument.

Johnstown officials launched a revamped Web site in 2006.

Along with city ordinances, various forms and e-mail addresses for officials, the site includes a detailed, street-by-street map of zoning classifications.

“That zoning map gets a lot of use,” said Melissa Komar, a city GIS specialist who maintains the site.

Online services also have improved at the county level.

Among Cambria County’s features is a Web mapping tool that allows users to view property information as well as photos.

Somerset County also has a comprehensive real-estate search function online, as well as features such as daily court schedules and an online job-application feature.

“I want to make this as interactive and as useful as possible,” said Michael Fahy, a county Web programmer.

That trend is expected to continue.

For instance, Vinzani said Somerset Borough’s site may someday allow residents to view their water and sewer accounts online.

Hirko predicts that more and more residents simply will expect municipal government to be accessible electronically.

“It’s going to be a primary source of information for people,” he said.