The town of Paris has launched a new Web site.

While the page is still under construction, the shell made its debut Monday at www.town.paris.me.us.

Selectmen, while embracing the new site, are reluctant to embrace the new technology. After a short discussion at the town meeting, selectmen passed on the opportunity to have e-mail addresses through the site.

Excuses were made and the idea was rejected. Selectman Raymond Glover is concerned about spam, or unsolicited e-mail advertisements. Selectman Bruce Hanson says he doesn’t check his e-mail until the middle of the week and new e-mail addresses might establish an uncomfortable expectation of a swift reply. Hanson also said the e-mail correspondence could become part of the public record. “I think I’d prefer a phone call or face-to-face,” he said. What went unspoken is the idea of increasing public scrutiny of the selectmen’s activities and community contacts.

E-mail has become an important tool in modern communications. It has its downside, of course. It’s easier to be rude, people often fire off a message hastily, without thinking about its implications. E-mails can be sloppy and even embarrassing in hindsight.

That being said, selectmen can’t turn back the hands of time. E-mail addresses through the town’s new Web site would make the government officials more accessible to their constituents. So selectman have to change their habits and check e-mail more often. That doesn’t seem like an insurmountable challenge. As for spam, the delete button works great.

The new Web site is attractive and useful. It would be even more so if it made it easier and encouraged Paris residents to contact their elected leaders.