Each month I put a message in the Emmitsburg Dispatch and post that same message on the Town web page. This month
I'd like to tell you about the Town's web site. It is part of www.emmitsburg.net, a
community information portal for Emmitsburg, which is maintained free of charge by Mike Hillman.
The Town's web site is full of useful information about Emmitsburg's Town government, its history, its functions,
and the elected officials. On the site you can find a short biography of myself as well as each Commissioner; and contact information for
the elected officials, town staff and various committees.
While well-designed and easy to navigate, the Town's web site has not been used to its full advantage. As part of my
campaign commitment to improve communication between the town government and the residents, I intend to take full advantage of the power and
capabilities built into the site to improve communication between our Town government and its residents.
Recent enhancements include the addition of an on-line version of the Town Municipal Code Book & Town Charter, a
"What's New Section," and a "Special Bulletin and Notice Section." Town meeting and Planning and Zoning agendas and their minutes are also
now being posted on the web site.
Once new information, such as meeting agendas, minutes, and articles from the Mayor's desk are posted, the previous
files remain on the site in an archive for future reference. The site also has a search function to allow you to pinpoint that hard-to-find
fact or number.
The beauty and power of the internet is that it gives the town the ability to provide you with new information in a
very timely manner. So if you awake at 2 a.m. and find yourself wondering if you need a permit for that planned addition to your house, the
answer is just a few clicks away.
There is no reason that Emmitsburg shouldn't follow other levels of government in providing e-government services
and information resources to its citizens. However, to accomplish this goal, we'll need your help. When you get a chance, please visit the
Town's web site and let us know what you think. What information services are we missing? What documents or permits would you like to see on
line? The more feedback we get from you, the better the Town's web site will become and the better our ability to provide you "The right
information at the right time."
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the town office, or e-mail
me at mayorhoover@emmitsburgmd.gov
Respectfully,
Jim Hoover
Read Past Issues of
From Mayor Jim's Desk
