Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Five communities from across the state were recognized as winners of the MMA’s annual municipal website awards during the Connect 351 conference in Boston on Jan. 24.
The awards recognize excellence in customer service, functionality, convenience and government transparency delivered by a municipal website in Massachusetts.
Awards are given in five population categories:
More than 35,000: Watertown — www.watertown-ma.gov
25,001 to 35,000: North Andover — www.northandoverma.gov
12,001 to 25,000: Belchertown — www.belchertown.org
5,001 to 12,000: Littleton — www.littletonma.org
Under 5,000: Sherborn — www.sherbornma.org
Municipal websites are evaluated using the following criteria:
• Clear branding as the official municipal government site, with local government address and hours prominently listed
• Intuitive navigation tools and organization of material
• Robust search function
• Current and timely information
• Availability of public records
• Mobile-friendly or mobile-responsive design
• Resources for residents such as the ability to apply for licenses and permits, pay bills, order documents and make suggestions
• Tools to promote economic development (e.g., ability to obtain licenses and permits or view list of developable land and vacant sites)
• Information about departments (e.g., key personnel, contact information, office hours, and department mission or purpose)
• Use of social media and tools for online community engagement
• Visual appeal and overall experience
Previous winners are not eligible to re-enter the contest unless their website has undergone a significant redesign.
This year’s contest judges were Wendy Foxmyn, a retired town administrator in Deerfield who served as the chief administrative officer, assistant chief administrative officer, and interim town administrator in more than a dozen western Massachusetts communities; and Tricia Vinchesi, a retired regional director at the International City/County Management Association, former president of the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association, a founding member of Women Leading Government, and a former town administrator in Scituate, South Hadley, Whately and Longmeadow.