[Adopted 2-14-2001 by Ord. No. 2-2001]
It is the policy of the City of Linwood government
that Internet access and e-mail are provided for network computers
to enable employees to conduct City business in an efficient fashion.
General operational guidelines are as follows:
A.
Use of the Internet and e-mail is public and a privilege,
not a right, which may be revoked at any time for unacceptable use.
All electronic communications systems and information transmitted
by, received from and stored in these systems is owned or under the
custody of the City of Linwood. The City retains the right to keep,
retrieve and monitor all access to Internet and e-mail service activity.
B.
Restrictions may be placed on the use of the Internet
to protect the City and its resources.
User requirements are as follows:
A.
Identification. The name of any Internet and/or e-mail
user must be provided to the City Administrator before access to either
service will be provided.
B.
Acceptance of policy. Before receiving Internet or
e-mail access, each City user will sign a statement certifying that
he/she will abide by the provisions included in the policy, procedures
and standards.
C.
Signature block. Each e-mail transmission that is
sent outside of City government must include a signature block identifying
the message as City property with the name, department and telephone
number of the sender. A standard signature block has been established
and is available at all times on the network server.
This policy will be reviewed annually and recommendations
for changes will be made to the Data Processing Committee.
Acceptable uses for the Internet and e-mail
will include, but not be limited to, the following:
A.
Research/education. Communication with professional
associates, other governments, educational institutions, business
and/or individuals associated with the facilitation of City business.
B.
General public. Distribution of information to the
general public whereby such information is made available under City
guidelines and policies for the release of information and the Freedom
of Information Act.
C.
Incidental communication. Incidental communication
among City employees and professional colleagues which facilitates
work assignments and professional discussion in a work-related field
of knowledge.
Unacceptable uses for the Internet and e-mail
will include, but not be limited to, the following:
A.
Unlawful access. Efforts to gain unlawful access to
information or computer/communications resources.
B.
Viruses. Intentional introduction of computer worms
or viruses.
C.
Copyright/patent violations. Transmission of materials
in violation of applicable laws.
D.
Unauthorized/unlicensed programs. Downloading of or
introduction of unauthorized or unlicensed programs or software.
E.
Network interference. Sending of messages likely to
result in the congestion of the network or otherwise interfere with
the work of others. Attempts to circumvent or subvert system or network
security measures including using others' passwords, trespassing in
others' files or forging e-mail massages.
F.
Personal use. Personal use not related to the conduct
of work on behalf of the City of Linwood. The use of Internet and/or
e-mail for private, recreational, non-job-related purposes, including
the conduct of personal commercial transactions, promotion of religiously
oriented information or for partisan political purposes, is prohibited.
G.
Illegal use. Use of the county network for illegal
or immoral purposes or to support or assist such purposes. Examples
include but are not limited to the transmission of violent, threatening,
defrauding, obscene, illegal or unlawful materials and the use of
e-mail to harass, intimidate or otherwise annoy another person.
H.
Web page. Development of a personal or departmental
Web or home page without authorization from the City Administrator.
A.
Access. Users will request Internet and/or e-mail
access from the City Administrator in writing, signed by the user's
department head. At installation, the user will be required to sign
the policy statement acknowledging his/her willingness to comply with
the City policy. The policy statement will be forwarded to the department
head for signature before being returned to the City Administrator.
B.
Signature block. All users must establish a signature
block for any e-mail message sent outside of county government that
prominently states "This message has been prepared on resources managed
by Atlantic County government. It is subject to the Internet and E-mail
Use Policy of Atlantic County government." The signature block must
also include the user's name, department and phone number. A standard
signature block has been established and is always available to users
on the county network server.
C.
E-mail maintenance. Check electronic mail daily. Delete
unwanted messages or files immediately because they take up disk storage
space. Further, because of system backups, e-mail deleted by a user
may well continue to exist in an archived file. The City of Linwood
will not disclose the contents of e-mail unless required to do so
by local, state or federal authorities or by City of Linwood policy.
D.
Compliance. The user's department head will evaluate
violations of this policy on a case-by-case basis. Violations may
result in disciplinary action including termination, and may include
referral to appropriate authorities for civil or criminal prosecution.
The use of Internet and/or e-mail for unauthorized purposes will subject
the individual employee to full responsibility for all liability,
including financial.
E.
Random audits. The Administrator may make random internal
audits of Internet or e-mail use.
