The committee devoted attention to the town’s existing website infrastructure, which has been in place since around 2013. The current municipal website is described as a database-heavy platform that, while robust in terms of data security, falls short of the necessary accessibility standards mandated by the ADA. The need for an update is underscored by the looming April 2027 deadline for compliance with ADA requirements, which stipulates that town websites must be as accessible as physical municipal buildings.

A central feature of the proposed website overhaul is the integration of compliance tools directly into the website, allowing users to personalize their accessibility settings. This approach is likened to adding a wheelchair ramp to a building, providing a direct comparison to ensure all users can access necessary services without needing separate adaptive technology. The committee acknowledged that ensuring ADA compliance would require addressing technical challenges posed by disparate systems currently used across various departments.

One complication in the website project is the need to accommodate the specific regulations of the police department and the Criminal Information Systems Justice Act. This may necessitate operating two separate websites to ensure compliance, one for general municipal use and another strictly for the police department. The committee anticipates that the project will take approximately six months from vendor selection to completion, excluding the ongoing procurement phase.

During discussions, it was noted that the project budget request for $155,000 was based on previous budgets and initial vendor assessments, with the actual cost contingent on the final choice of product and identified needs. An update on the budget is expected within a month as further details are clarified.

In parallel, Cindy Courier from the Council on Aging presented the need for a new Senior Center. The current rented space is inadequate for the Council’s expanding programs, forcing them to use various external venues for events and limit attendance. Courier emphasized the urgency of finding a new location before their lease expires on May 14, 2027. The committee discussed the space and budget requirements for a new facility. Courier suggested sharing current space requirements to aid in future discussions, emphasizing the need for community involvement in the planning process.

Courier also raised the issue of transportation, proposing the acquisition of an additional vehicle to complement the existing wheelchair-accessible van used for transporting seniors. While not deemed an urgent priority, the acquisition of a smaller vehicle was considered a lower-cost capital expenditure that could be managed within the standard budget. The committee noted that surplus police cruisers, typically available for use, may not suit the Council on Aging’s needs due to accessibility concerns.

In a related matter, the committee briefly touched on the fire department’s infrastructure, noting that necessary adjustments were resolved without the need for additional funding or project requests. The conversation then shifted back to website consolidation efforts, aiming to integrate the municipal offices, fire department, police department, and historical committee websites into a single platform. Notably, the library opted to maintain its separate infrastructure, citing its association with the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium.

The meeting concluded with discussions on procedural matters, including the distribution of rating packages among members and the approval of minutes from the previous meeting. A motion was made to approve the minutes, which passed unanimously, leading to a motion to adjourn the meeting.