LAWRENCE: Township website named to top 10 in state

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   Lawrence Township officials will be heading to Monmouth University in two weeks to pick up an award for the township’s website, which has been named one of the 10 best municipal websites in New Jersey.
   Mayor Jim Kownacki told Township Council Tuesday night that the Monmouth University Polling Institute and the Graduate Program in Public Policy selected the township’s website — www.lawrencetwp.com — following a study of 540 municipal websites.
   Monmouth University, which is based in W. Long Branch, launched an e-government project to examine how municipalities use their websites to inform citizens, provide services and encourage public engagement, according to the letter notifying Mayor Kownacki of the award.
   Lawrence’s website received high marks in nearly every category and was particularly noted for online access to citizen transactions, wrote Patrick Murray, the director of Monmouth University’s Polling Institute and Kathryn Kloby, the director of the college’s Graduate Program in Public Policy.
   The Lawrence Township website allows residents to find out the dates when yard waste, trash collection and recycling are scheduled, simply by typing in their address. It also allows citizens to file a police report online.
   Citizens can find out when Township Council or an advisory board is meeting, based on the monthly calendar that appears on the website. Applications for dog and cat licenses can be downloaded, as well as applications to serve on an advisory board or committee.
   Information about the proposed municipal budget is available online, also. This includes Powerpoint presentations that the municipal manager has presented to Township Council.
   Mayor Kownacki was pleased to learn of the honor, and he said he would attend the March 21 event at Monmouth University.
   Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun said much of the credit for the township website goes to Steven Groeger, the superintendent of recreation, and to Yvette Martinette, who is the executive secretary to the municipal manager.
   ”They have taken on the responsibility for the website. Without a doubt, they deserve the credit,” Mr. Krawczun said.