(a) E-Mail Internet Privacy. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines regarding the personal responsibility of Village employees using the Internet, electronic mail services and online services.
(b) General Understandings.
(1) Access to computer systems and networks owned or operated by the Village of Sebring imposes certain responsibilities and obligations on Village employees and officials (hereinafter termed “users”) and is subject to Village policies and local, state and federal laws. Acceptable use always is ethical, reflects honesty and shows restraint in the consumption of shared resources. It demonstrates respect for intellectual property, ownership of information, system security mechanisms, and the individual’s rights to privacy and freedom from intimidation, harassment and unwarranted annoyance.
(2) Users may be subject to limitations on their use of the computer systems and networks as determined by the appropriate supervising authority.
(3) Use of computer systems and network services provided by the Village of Sebring may be subject to monitoring for security and/or network management reasons. Users of these services are therefore advised of this potential monitoring and agree to this practice.
(4) Users who violate any copy right declarations are acting outside the course and scope of their employment or other authority. Therefore, the Village of Sebring is relieved of any legal responsibility. Users will be personally responsible and liable for such infringing activities.
(5) By participating in the use of computer systems and network services provided by the Village, users agree to be subject to and abide this policy for their use. Willful violation of the principles and provisions of this policy may result in disciplinary action.
(6) This document may updated on an as-needed basis and is subject to annual review.
(7) Be aware that all users should not expect privacy when using the Department’s information systems. All messages are under Department and Village jurisdiction and the Department and/or Village reserves the right to access and disclose all messages sent over its information systems.
(8) Some simple rules for computer users are as follows.
(c) Users shall:
(1) Use the network only for official Village business and access only files and data that are their own, that are publicly available, or to which they have authorized access. “Official Village Business” for education and research purposes by entities established specifically for such purposes may be more broadly interpreted in accordance with guidelines developed by such entities.
(2) Refrain from monopolizing systems, overloading networks with excessive data or wasting computer time, connect time, disk space, printer paper, manuals or other resources.
(3) Protect their department station and system from unauthorized use.
(4) Assume responsibility for any charges associated with billable services unless appropriate authorization has been obtained.
(d) Users shall not:
(1) Use the computer systems and networks for unauthorized, illegal, unlawful or immoral purposes. Examples of this would be the transmission of violent, threatening, defrauding, obscene, harassing or otherwise illegal or unlawful materials.
(2) Use mail or messaging services to harass, intimidate or otherwise annoy another person. This means never display or transmit sexually explicit images, messages or cartoons, or any communications that contain ethnic slurs, racial epithets or anything that may be construed as harassment or disparagement of others based on their race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability or religious or political beliefs. Violation will result in severe disciplinary action up to and including termination.
(3) Use the computer systems or networks for private, recreational or nonpublic purposes including the conducting of personal commercial transactions.
(4) Use the computer systems or networks to solicit or proselytize others for commercial ventures, religious or political causes, outside organizations or other non-job related solicitations.
(5) Use the computer systems or networks or other Village equipment for personal gain such as providing access to a computer system or network or by performing work with Village resources in a manner not authorized by the Village.
(6) Use the computer systems or network to other users, services or equipment. Disruptions include, but are not limited to, distribution of unsolicited advertising, propagation of computer “worms” and viruses, and sustained high volume network traffic, which substantially hinders others in their use of the network.
(7) Attempt to circumvent or subvert system or network security measures.
(8) Intercept computer traffic for any purpose unless engaged in authorized administrative duties.
(9) Make or use illegal or unauthorized copies of copyrighted software or other mediums, store such copies on Village system, or transmit them over the Village computer systems or networks.
(10) Attempt to gain access to another employee’s personal file of e-mail messages without the latter’s express written permission. However, the Village reserves the right to enter an employee’s computer or e-mail files whenever there is a business need to do so, as determined by the Village Manager. (Ord. 24-06. Passed 5-22-06.)