New and Improved Borough Website Makes Its Debut

Hellertown Borough councilman Tom Rieger says the new borough website will be an "information portal" to all things Hellertown.

That shouldn't be a problem, since he's built the site himself, saving the borough $10,000 to $20,000--the range of estimated costs presented when the project went for bids.

Though it went live online June 6, there is still lots of information to be added to the website.

“It's still a work in progress,” Rieger said. “The bulk of it is there.”

The site is designed to be more user-friendly and will allow online visitors access to nearly everything they would currently have to go to Borough Hall for.

“There are not many forms up there yet, but I'm doing them as I have time,” he said. “Residents will be able to download the form, fill it out and send it in.”

The entire borough code is available for viewing on the site, and the homepage will serve for links and announcements.

The borough is working on putting together a history page to educate online visitors about Hellertown's unique past.

“Because we have to remember where we came from,” Rieger said.

Over the summer, he said he plans on adding the Hellertown Police Department pages, which will include crime statistics, announcements and other local law enforcement information.

“That's a whole realm on top of regulations and codes,” he said.

So far, the site has been well received by the public.

“I've gotten a lot more compliments from the public,” Rieger said. “The old site didn't have any bite to it.”

Links to community organizations are being added too, along with links to public meeting agendas and minutes--and on the recreation page, each borough park will have a link its own page, he said.

“Everything will be on there,” Rieger said. “From what it was to what it is to what it will be, is a big leap.”

The borough welcomes suggestions and the contribution of appropriate links for the new website. Contact councilman Tom Rieger at t.rieger@hellertownborough.org.