For far too long, Christiansburg residents were told a
decent town website would be coming. Soon. Well, wait a bit longer. Then a bit longer. Late this January it was in fact finally unveiled.
Nine months later citizens are left wondering why the problems with fully utilizing
information and
communication technology. Citizens still want the town to accept credit or debit card payments
using software purchased years ago, while others would simply like to see their checks processed within two business days of receipt (common financial practices that balance cashflow while generating revenue from account sweeps and float into interest bearing accounts).
According to preliminary reviews of council's "new"
Vision 2020, the solution may be creating yet another job. Why not begin instead by confirming
how many employees are already working for the town, and whether these resources -- along with technology already bought and paid for by taxpayers -- are being effectively utilized? Before hiring a Public Information Officer, remember the first "assistant to the town manager" was hired to handle this.
Who is doing what and
why is less getting done with more staff and the best tools money can buy? There's too much citizen concern about systemic laxness on the use of leave time, extended lunch hours and routine early departures on top of generous pay, benefits and holidays to be talking about the need to further expand the town's payroll.
Back in June, the CHS Photography Club was recognized for
providing the town with a catalog of pictures depicting "What Christiansburg Means To Me." Why aren't any of these on the town's web site yet?
Christiansburg's web has a very limited "
Notify Me" option -- limited because it only offers updates on public meeting notices or minutes, and recreation announcements. Contrast this to other localities, such as
Staunton or
Blacksburg and you see a real commitment to having an informed citizenry by pushing out daily alerts on traffic or general community information.
Look at Christiansburg's announcements since the new launch, and you don't see much. Nothing on:
Vision 2020 press release, upcoming candidate forums for November's elections, Police Department staff changes, actual dates for when or where street paving may occur and create traffic issues, or upcoming recreational program registration or other current events happening around the community. Someone managed to get that to somebody else to publish, why not include it on the web site?
Vision 2020 includes a goal to "assess the need and develop an appropriate plan for transitioning from volunteer to partial paid emergency services." As written, this seems to presuppose such a need and additional payroll -- without providing citizens with information about current staffing and source or use of funds and equipment.
The "
Notify Me" features doesn't inform citizens the single paid emergency responder has retired
or that volunteers had elected a "
Fire Chief Elect" who inherited a brand new vehicle funded during this fiscal year. Why not?
Open government and transparency is needed in Christiansburg, yet it will take more than creating additional government jobs to get information flowing. A good start might be to
fully utilize available technology and resources.