Sag Harbor unveils new website

Sag Harbor Village recently launched its new, more dynamic website, which officials say will evolve and expand as the needs of the village do.

The new site will also have many more public documents, said Village Trustee Robby Stein, who has spearheaded the effort to update the village’s web presence. And eventually, Mr. Stein wants to see all Sag Harbor businesses, schools and events listed and linked on the site.

John Monteleone, the web designer, said that all of the subsections on the website will feature drop down menus that can be expanded. The “beta,” or test version of the site, which is online now, has drop down menus for the village code book, village departments and comprehensive planning for the municipality, among others. Mr. Monteleone, who owns HamptonsWebDesign.com, explained that the site is considered a “content management system” because Sag Harbor Village can add to it as time goes on.

Unlike its old, static website, which the village has used for at least 15 years, according to Clerk Sandra Schroeder, this one is dynamic and ever-changing.

Ms. Schroeder said that she and some of her office staff will be in charge of administering and updating the site. She noted that not everything can automatically be posted on the site, because some documents, 
like minutes from board meetings, and draft documents need to be approved by the Village Board first.

In addition to featuring a weather forecast, surf report and traffic warnings, the new website also has an artistic backdrop. Sag Harbor artist April Gornik helped Mr. Stein design the artistic map that serves as the site’s backdrop, Mr. Monteleone said.

The new site cost about $5,000, but Mr. Monteleone probably put in about $10,000 worth of work, Mr. Stein said.

In the future, the village’s website will also feature banner alerts for snow closings, and a 
page linking web surfers to health information.