Shorter may be better for email addresses

by Mike Robinson

ABERFOYLE

It looks like Puslinch Township might be trying for a shorter email address.

At the Jan. 4 meeting, councillor Susan Fielding  said the township email addresses seem rather long. The current website address is twp.puslinch.on.ca and that address is also a part of the majority of email addresses for staff and council.

The exception is Mayor Dennis Lever who is listed as using the same email address for his role as Wellington County councillor - dennisl@wellington.ca.

Fielding said there are other municipalities with more condensed addresses such as wellington.ca and guelph.ca.

She wondered when the local website could be abbreviated to puslinch.ca.

“The current address is just not easy to remember, and I doubt there is anyone else in Canada using that name. Maybe that’s a whole can of worms you don’t want to get into.”

Deputy clerk Heather Krouskie did not see the change as a big deal and said the township’s information technology person could set something up.

However, Fielding also noted township business cards are already printed with the current address. She said it might be something to think of next year when new business cards are being ordered.

Fielding said that it would be better - even for the township website. “It would be a lot easier to remember. It’s not an easy address to remember ... it’s hard enough to get Puslinch right.”

Krouskie said that Mayor Dennis Lever has also been approached about shortening the address for the website and email addresses.

Krouskie said the issue will also come up as the municipality looks into its accessibility issues.

Lever agreed someone has approached him to shorten the township web address. He said his discussion with Krouskie was it be looked into at the same time the township is doing an overhaul to its website. He did not see the business cards being a big issue.

Lever explained that set ups can include a means to allow emails to reach the right person through either the old or the new email address.

“That would be perfect,” Fielding said.”

Lever asked Krouskie follow that idea up with the technical people as well.

January 13, 2012