During a recent government meeting, board members discussed the ongoing issues surrounding the development and hosting of their official website. The conversation centered on whether to vacate the current website and transition to an in-house IT solution or to pursue legal action against the current developer, Mr. Hunter, who has presented a bill for hosting services that the board believes were not part of their agreement.

Board members expressed frustration over the lack of access to the website and the developer's failure to communicate effectively. They noted that while Mr. Hunter was initially contracted to develop the website in phases, the board had only authorized the establishment of the site, which they paid for in full. The board clarified that they did not permit Mr. Hunter to continue hosting the website beyond the agreed terms, leading to a breakdown in communication and subsequent turmoil.

Legal counsel was consulted during the meeting, but the attorney indicated that he was not prepared to provide a comprehensive legal opinion at that time. However, he did suggest that the board might want to consider requesting a refund for the initial payment due to a potential breach of contract, as the developer had not fulfilled his obligations.

The board also discussed the possibility of recreating the website independently, as they confirmed that all necessary content had been provided to Mr. Hunter during the development phase. This option could allow them to sever ties with the developer entirely, should they choose to do so.

As the meeting concluded, board members were encouraged to consider their next steps carefully, weighing the implications of both pursuing legal action and developing the website in-house. The city manager indicated that further recommendations would be forthcoming after a thorough review of the situation.