Last week, Northampton County rolled out a new website promoted as being more secure and user-friendly. Given that this is a presidential year, having a secure website is essential. Four years ago, county IT officials intercepted thousands of efforts to hack into the county system. But is the new website more user friendly? When I'm unable to access basic documents like the county's Home Rule Charter or Administrative Code from a supposed link at the Executive's page, I'd have to say No.
Last week, County Council candidate Daniel Dewey voiced his own frustration with accessing the new site. "Please fix it," he implored Council at their Thursday night meeting. "There are lots of links that are broken. There's a lot of information that Google is linking that you just can't get to. If information is inaccessible, it doesn't exist."
Later that evening, Executive Lamont McClure assured Council that the new website just went into operation on Wednesday and all broken links have been fixed. Perhaps he should try to access the Home Rule Charter from his own page.
Council member Ron Heckman said the new design "looks like it came from middle school. The one we had was so easy to navigate. It was right there in front of you."
Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron, who spearheaded implementation of the new website, caught a bit of flack from Heckman. Barron explained that the old system was built on a program called Microsoft Sharepoint, That system reached the end of its useful life in April, and no longer receives security patches, updates or support from Microsoft. Because of security concerns with a .gov domain, links that were working just fine on the old system apparently need more time to be operable.
Heckman insisted that the new website is "unworkable for our average residents. It's just a very poor design."
My own view is that the new website will eventually be more user friendly after it goes through some growing pains.
Executive Lamont McClure said that people who have issues with specific problem should notify Communications Director Brittney Waylen (bwaylen@norcopa.gov).
Poor Little Stevie Barron, jack of all trades and Master of none, Bless his heart!
ReplyDeleteTypical government. They're clueless. Rather than simply updating to SharePoint 2016 or 2019 (or even their subscription service), they build an entirely new, nonfunctional website. When it's not your money, you don't care.
ReplyDeleteAside from being a design catastrophe (who was paid for this mess?), it's a pro-executive slap at council. He's such a small guy.
ReplyDeleteAre property records no longer available online? I couldn't find the office of Deeds on the drop down menu and nothing came up in the search feature
ReplyDeleteYou also cannot view previous financial reports online.
DeleteWhat the H does HE have a Communications Director!!!!
ReplyDeleteBernie O’Hare to 8:02, https://www.norcopa.gov/recorder-of-deeds
ReplyDeleteNorco, the sad joke that keeps getting sadder each day. Dear norco voters - look in the mirror and you will see the root of the problem..
ReplyDelete"You also cannot view previous financial reports online."
ReplyDeleteUntrue. Click county government, then click fiscal, There is a link to fiscal reports. It is a two-click operation.
https://www.norcopa.gov/fiscal-reports
One thing that bothers me, and I neglected to mention it in my story and in feedback I have provided, is that the new website still lacks a portal for online payment of real estate tax. That is just ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you
DeleteHome rule charter should be a separate link listed immediately under the county government pull down menu
ReplyDelete9:15, I doubt many people go on the website to look at the Charter. But the new website is flawed in that, on the face page, there is no index of quick links taking you directly to what most people go on the county website to view. The old website had a sidebar with quick access links to things like sheriff sales. Many people go on the website to review upcoming sales. IT should know which portions of the website receive the most traffic, and there should be a sidebar that takes people there with quick links. That could be placed under "Popular tasks." I also don't like that an entire page is filled with "Northampton County is about ...." and you have to scroll down. Then there are two pics of the Exec. There should be a pic of the Exec on the Exec's page, not two at the home page of the website. I do like some features, but its should strive for more simplicity. It looks cluttered.
ReplyDeleteAlso, what about a front and center link to grants or tax breaks available. There seems to be an issue with getting these well publicized so people and entities who may qualify know about them.
ReplyDeleteThe previous website looked sharp and professional. This one looks sloppy, cheap, and has much wasted space and opportunity. Just some observations: Picture of the tree from the park should reflect the season, duh. The links under “popular tasks” should be alphabetized, duh. The search bar is a waste. I entered “district attorney” and just got larger pictures and type. Where do I go to find court information? Click on the three bars on the top right and you get the DA (BaRATta’s picture is oh so impressive), but nothing on upcoming cases, trials, etc. (The link to the Court of Common Pleas is still a .org account, though.) People will become very frustrated with this site. Gotta love the out-of-focus pictures (County Council page), too, which may be okay on a phone or tablet, but not a computer. I am sure a lot of money was spent on this, but whomever thought this a sleek website must not do much web browsing.
ReplyDeleteThe old link to property records from the Assessment Department continues to work.
ReplyDeleteThe new website shows that link under "Fiscal Affairs" and then under "Recorder of Deeds".
Got no problem with that but why doesn't it also show under "Assessment"?
Seems unintuitive to me, but what do I know?
My issue is that how much we talk about how great the Lehigh valley and more specifically Northampton County is with all our small businesses. You mean to tell me not ONE business was good enough to design a new website and get paid by the county. Instead, we got a company from NEW YORK CITY to design it and THIS is what we got. It’s so not user friendly and I don’t know what we paid, but we got ripped off! Seems like a friend of a friend in high places here got the job…
ReplyDeleteWhat are people upset about? There are lots of pictures of Lamont McClure, our handsome Executive, his quotes, and almost every link to a story has his name mentioned. It's like a day in paradise.
ReplyDelete