Alna’s website will keep its address, but get a new look and some new features selectmen welcome. The board on March 15 gave the credit to volunteer and Alna resident Ed Pentaleri, a retired engineer. Selectmen also broached the topic of paying Pentaleri. But he declined.

“That’s really generous of you,” Third Selectman Doug Baston said.

Pentaleri said once he’s shown officials how to work the site, there may not be much for him to do but take a call if they need help. If it turns out to be a job, maybe they could talk, Pentaleri said.

The board praised the site’s look. Baston called it superb. Pentaleri said the state — hosting it at the same address the town now uses, alna.maine.gov — will direct users to the new site he started at squarespace.com.

The town will pay Squarespace about $200 a year for providing the framework, Baston wrote in an email response March 16. At town meeting March 18, Pentaleri announced the site went live March 17. The comment drew applause.

On March 15, officials and Pentaleri briefly discussed possible .gov email addresses for the planning and select boards and town clerk. If those are added, he could arrange for any emails sent to alna@tidewater.net to still go to the town, Pentaleri explained. He planned to check on any costs. “If it’s anything appreciable, maybe we’re better off just sticking with what we’ve got.”

People are used to the tidewater.net one, First Selectman David Abbott said.

The new site has a button to click to fill out a volunteer form; new categories including events and community news; and, at Pentaleri’s suggestion, officials plan to offer more phone numbers including ones for the code enforcement officer, fire wardens to call about burn permits and First Selectman David Abbott. “All the complainers already call me,” Abbott said with a smile.

Also March 15, Fire Chief Mike Trask said dry hydrants around town needed plowing or shoveling. He has to be able to get to them or they’re of no use, Trask said.