Western Bureau: The St James parish council will next month launch its website, which is currently being designed at a cost of $167,000 by Interlinc Communications in Kingston.

The website identifies the 17 councillors charged with representing the interests of their division members and offers information on the Council’s functions and operations. The address is www.netsearchjamaica.com/stjames parishcouncil.

In addition, visitors to the site can access information on forms and procedures at the council, local government and “quick facts” on Montego Bay and St James. They can also download application forms to access services offered by the local government body.

Meanwhile, public relations officer at the council, Suzette Brown-Johnson, said council employees were now being trained to maintain the website, which she anticipated, would offer the council an opportunity to earn additional funds.

She argued that making forms available online, such as applications for licensing events, would not only make it easier for people to obtain the documents, but would translate into more applications and more revenue for the council.

“In addition, council is anticipating greater compliance and as a result, additional earnings,” Brown-Johnson added.

The establishment of the site forms part of the council’s programme to enhance transparency in its operations.

They have also set up a toll-free line, 1-888-666-8346, to allow people to access information, register complaints and/or make recommendations.

According to Brown-Johnson, the council’s secretary manager, Christopher Powell, had developed a performance measurement initiative that “requires” the council to assess its performance in the areas of administration, civic and community service matters, road maintenance and poor relief services among other core service offerings like disaster preparedness.

In addition, she said they would be holding quarterly press-briefings, where Montego Bay mayor, Hugh Solomon, and the secretary manager, would answer queries from the media.

In addition the PR officer said, the annual community fora had met with success this past year.

“This year, the fora were held in nine clusters, incorporating all 17 parish council divisions. At almost all the fora, members of the public encouraged the St James Parish Council to continue staging (them) annually as they need to be more informed in order to make better decisions,” she said.

“Coming out of the fora and based on the requests of residents, the council’s public and community relations unit will be visiting more with citizens at their association meetings throughout the parish and informing them of developments at council,” she added.