Municipal publishing

Review a municipal page.

Review one page and the files and services it sends people to. Record evidence, assign each open issue and check it again after an edit.

Version 1.0 · 16 checks

A record you can keep and use again.

Start with one page and one task. Print the blank checklist and write on it, or edit the spreadsheet copy. The worked example shows how to record both evidence and work still to do.

Built from the five content rules in the Saddle River case study, with checks for access and routine maintenance.

Download checklist and example (PDF) Blank spreadsheet (CSV) Example spreadsheet (CSV)

Blank checklist · Version 1.0

Municipal website page review

A practical publishing review, not a complete accessibility assessment or approval of legal requirements. Use the web version alongside the printable or spreadsheet copy.

Page title and address
To complete
Resident or applicant task
To complete
Reviewer and review date
To complete
Content owner
To complete
Next review date
To complete
Earlier review triggers
To complete

Choose a status

Verified
Evidence supports the whole check.
Follow up
An issue or uncertainty needs an owner.
Not checked
The check remains an open task.
Not applicable
Explain why the check does not apply.

Part 1 of 4

Help people complete the task

  1. Check 01. Name the audience and task

    Can a resident or applicant tell what this page helps them do, and where to begin?

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

  2. Check 02. Put the steps in order

    State the sequence, what the person supplies and what happens next. Distinguish a request from an approval.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

  3. Check 03. Open every form and destination

    Link directly to available forms, name their purpose and file type, and open each destination. Check that documents can be read and used.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

  4. Check 04. Explain contact and follow-up

    Name the office to contact, the information to provide and how the person learns what happens next.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

Part 2 of 4

Keep information clear and dependable

  1. Check 05. Point to the maintained source

    Link requirements to the office or authority that maintains them. Make clear which process each source governs.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

  2. Check 06. Keep each fact consistent

    Give recurring facts one maintained home where possible. Compare any repeated details with their source so copies do not conflict.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

  3. Check 07. Write for the person using it

    Use direct instructions and descriptive headings. Explain unfamiliar terms and boundaries between related services.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

  4. Check 08. Keep what is required and useful

    Remove obsolete or duplicate copy after checking publication and records obligations. Keep needed context and assistance routes.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

Part 3 of 4

Check access in a browser

  1. Check 09. Try a phone and enlarged text

    Read the page on a narrow screen and with enlarged text. Check that content and controls remain visible and usable.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

  2. Check 10. Follow the keyboard route

    Use Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter and Escape where relevant. Check visible focus, logical order and the ability to leave every control.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

  3. Check 11. Check structure and alternatives

    Check the page title, heading order, link purpose and useful text alternatives for meaningful images.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

  4. Check 12. Check contrast and form feedback

    Measure text and control contrast. Check field labels and error instructions. Record the test and the control checked.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

Part 4 of 4

Leave a record staff can maintain

  1. Check 13. Confirm current information

    Ask the responsible office to confirm dates, fees, contacts and procedures against current authoritative sources. Record when this was done.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

  2. Check 14. Assign an owner and review trigger

    Record the staff role responsible for this page, a next review date and events that require an earlier update.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

  3. Check 15. Record issues and retest

    Give each open issue an action, owner and due date. Retest the changed area and its related links before closing it.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

  4. Check 16. Record the publication decision

    Record who reviewed the page, the decision and any remaining limitations. Keep the review record under your office's procedures.

    Status: VerifiedFollow upNot checkedNot applicable

    Evidence or reason
    To complete
    Next action and retest
    To complete
    Owner and due date
    To complete

Record the decision

Keep open checks visible. Record the decision, the person responsible and the limits of this review.

Decision and remaining limitations
To complete
Reviewed by and date
To complete
Next action owner and due date
To complete
Record location
To complete

Sources and basis

  1. Saddle River website case study

    The five content rules behind the checklist.

  2. Borough of Saddle River: Building and Construction

    Public content used for the example; reviewed September 29, 2026.

  3. W3C WAI: Easy Checks

    Preliminary accessibility guidance; reviewed September 29, 2026. A fuller assessment is still needed.

Worked example ·

Saddle River Construction

Public page content and selected link destinations were reviewed on September 29, 2026. Every checklist row is filled; checks outside that review are marked explicitly.

Task
Find the starting point, forms and inspection instructions for construction work.
Decision
Content review recorded; follow-up remains open. This example does not approve the page for publication or establish accessibility compliance.
Ownership
Content owner, action owners, due dates and approval: to be assigned by the responsible office.

Status across the 16 checks

  • 4 verified
  • 5 follow up
  • 7 not checked
  • 0 not applicable

Each numbered check matches the blank checklist above. An untested check stays open.

Part 1 of 4

Help people complete the task

  1. Check 01. Name the audience and task

    Verified

    Evidence
    The opening addresses homeowners and contractors before a project begins.
    Next action
    Recheck when the opening changes.

  2. Check 02. Put the steps in order

    Verified

    Evidence
    Four stages run from requirements through closeout; portal status is distinguished from approval.
    Next action
    Retest the sequence after a process change.

  3. Check 03. Open every form and destination

    Follow up

    Evidence
    Forms are grouped by task with PDF labels. The sampled inspection form opens, but extraction returned no text.
    Next action
    Check every file and its accessibility. Test the portal in a browser; retrieval did not verify it.

  4. Check 04. Explain contact and follow-up

    Verified

    Evidence
    Inspection instructions list request details and written confirmation; the page provides office contacts and hours.
    Next action
    Confirm operational accuracy separately under check 13.

Part 2 of 4

Keep information clear and dependable

  1. Check 05. Point to the maintained source

    Verified

    Evidence
    The page links State forms, State rules, Borough Code and County appeal information.
    Next action
    Have the responsible office validate the applicable requirements.

  2. Check 06. Keep each fact consistent

    Not checked

    Evidence
    No sitewide comparison of repeated contacts, hours or requirements was performed.
    Next action
    Compare the page, directory and linked forms; record the maintained source.

  3. Check 07. Write for the person using it

    Follow up

    Evidence
    Construction and Fire Prevention transfer processes are separated. Some specialist terms still need review.
    Next action
    Ask a reader unfamiliar with the process to explain the next step and flag unclear terms.

  4. Check 08. Keep what is required and useful

    Not checked

    Evidence
    Required content and retention obligations were not assessed in this example.
    Next action
    Ask the content owner and records custodian what must stay before removing anything.

Part 3 of 4

Check access in a browser

  1. Check 09. Try a phone and enlarged text

    Not checked

    Evidence
    This example used public content retrieval, not a device or zoom test.
    Next action
    Record device, browser and zoom settings with any clipping or scrolling issue.

  2. Check 10. Follow the keyboard route

    Not checked

    Evidence
    The live page and portal were not walked with a keyboard.
    Next action
    Test the page, menus and linked service; record the exact control and behavior.

  3. Check 11. Check structure and alternatives

    Not checked

    Evidence
    Readable extracted headings do not establish the full page structure or its alternatives.
    Next action
    Inspect the markup and read the page with assistive technology where available.

  4. Check 12. Check contrast and form feedback

    Not checked

    Evidence
    No contrast measurements or form error tests were performed.
    Next action
    Test relevant page and portal controls. Follow the W3C guidance linked below.

Part 4 of 4

Leave a record staff can maintain

  1. Check 13. Confirm current information

    Follow up

    Evidence
    No reviewed date appeared in the retrieved content. Staff confirmation was not obtained.
    Next action
    Record the office's confirmation and the date in the review record.

  2. Check 14. Assign an owner and review trigger

    Not checked

    Evidence
    Public contact information does not identify internal page ownership or review arrangements.
    Next action
    Assign a content owner and agree the next review and change triggers.

  3. Check 15. Record issues and retest

    Follow up

    Evidence
    Actions are recorded here, but owners, due dates and retests have not been agreed.
    Next action
    Transfer these actions into the office's issue log and assign them.

  4. Check 16. Record the publication decision

    Follow up

    Evidence
    This is a completed example review record, not a Borough publication signoff.
    Next action
    Obtain the responsible review and decision before treating the record as closed.

Next actions

  1. Test the linked files and portal, including document accessibility.
  2. Complete the browser and assistive technology checks.
  3. Confirm current procedures with staff, assign owners and record the publication decision.

This record keeps observed content separate from checks that still need to happen. Update each row with the evidence, owner and date when that work is complete.

Sources and basis

  1. Saddle River website case study

    The five content rules behind the checklist.

  2. Borough of Saddle River: Building and Construction

    Public content used for the example; reviewed September 29, 2026.

  3. W3C WAI: Easy Checks

    Preliminary accessibility guidance; reviewed September 29, 2026. A fuller assessment is still needed.