New App Takes 24-Hour Reports of Graffiti, Potholes, Missed Trash Pickup

Want to report a pothole or a missing street sign somewhere in Salem? It can now been done from your smartphone or laptop around-the-clock.

Mayor Kimberley Driscoll announced on Thursday the launch of the Commonwealth Connect app, which can be used to report non-emergency issues to city officials.

The reports are sent “in real time directly to the appropriate city department for resolution,” according to an announcement from Driscoll.

On a smartphone, you can download the app for free to any iPhone or Android device to report issues or you can get to it from a laptop, desktop or other web-enabled device by clicking on the SeeClickFix button on the city of Salem’s website.

The new app will “streamline the process for requesting city services or reporting an issue,” Driscoll said.

It will help city officials and staff that are not able to be in all places at all times, Driscoll said. In addition to reporting problems, the app allows citizens to monitor the progress in solving the problem, including receiving messages whenever another user or city officials has an update on an issue. You can track issues you have submitted or follow problems submitted by other issues. For example, a City Councilor could follow all of the reports in his ward, even if he did not submit them. Users can also view, comment on or update issues that have been reported by other users.

After an issue is submitted, city officials will send a confirmation that the issue was received and a service number for tracking purposes.

The app allows users to submit detailed information, descriptions and a photo of problem. They do not need to create an account to submit a request - it can be done anonymously. From a smartphone, the app can use the GPS function to “pinpoint the precise location of the issue” or it can be entered manually.

Additionally, users can share issues by posting them to Facebook, Twitter and other social media.

Some of the issues that can be reported include:

• road defects

• sidewalk repairs

• tree pruning

• line painting requests

• missing street signs

• non-functioning street lights

• missed trash and recycling pick-ups

• graffiti

In her announcement, Driscoll said she encourages residents to check-in to see the status of their requests and sign up to receive email notifications to find out when their issue has been resolved.

Commonwealth Connect was developed by SeeClickFix, a New England based company that makes the most widely-distributed citizen reporting tool in the country.

The Commonwealth Connect and SeeClickFox app is already is use in 54 communities in Massachusetts, including Bedford, Everett, Haverhill, Malden, Melrose, North Andover, Revere, Somerville, Wakefield and Woburn, plus Commonwealth Connect is integrated with the systems of eight other communities, including Andover, Boston, Chelsea, Saugus and Swampscott.

Any user of the app can also report an issue in any of the participating communities.