"How about a website that looks like it was created in this century?" Rodrigues said. "The new website is more appealing to the eye. It's easier to the manage. It has photographs of department heads and staffers. It looks like a city website, versus something that some kids in the back room put together."
The new city of Brockton website was made by Design Principles, a graphic design, web design and corporate branding firm based in Marion. The price tag for the taxpayer-funded project was $80,000, according to the mayor's office.
The company also produced the website that's used by the city of New Bedford, Mass., which was favored by Brockton because of its easy-to-navigate design and sleek appearance.
"In my opinion, having done the research on this when we were beginning to think about doing [it], this is the best I've seen," said Nick Giaquinto, chief of staff at the Brockton mayor's office, who helped select the design firm. "There are a few good websites, and New Bedford was always the top. That's why we leaned toward those guys."
The new website also features a rotating carousel of news items that can be used on the home page to display timely information in a prominent position.
"It's cool," Giaquinto said.
Rodrigues said he's glad the new website can help present information in a more efficient, organized way to help the citizens of Brockton get the most out of City Hall. Rodrigues only had one complaint, joking that web developer should have Photoshopped his picture.
"They didn't make me skinnier in that picture," he said. "Tell them to make me a little skinnier."
©2019 The Enterprise, Brockton, Mass. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
