Westport Island selectmen signed an agreement on Monday, Jan. 2 with Willow Light Studio to provide a new website for the town.

The $1500 project will include replacing the current outdated software, designing and building the new site, importing information from the current website and training town office staff. Completion for the initial phase of the project is expected to be April 1.

Pedro Guimaraes, owner of Willow Light Studio and a resident of Westport Island, has been working with Gaye Wagner, town clerk, and current webmaster Dennis Dunbar. The goal is a website that town officials and staff can operate easily.  A budget of $2,000 for the work was approved by residents at town meeting in June 2016.

Guimaraes, Dunbar and Wagner explained the benefits of the new site to selectmen on Monday. Navigation will be easier for those visiting the site and information will be more accessible to the public so calls to the town office will be reduced. Wagner explained that information such as dog licensing, vehicle and boat licensing and other frequently asked questions will be more easily available.

“The town will be able to manage the website by itself,” Guimaraes added. Expression Engine has been chosen as the new software platform for the website. Guimaraes has been in Maine since 2010. Willow Light Studio specializes in web development and media production.

Wagner is requesting photographs of Westport Island to be included on the new website. Anyone who has a photo that is representative of the town and “the beauty of our town” should send their photos to: townclerk@westportisland.us.