To meet the village’s safety, performance, and public trust needs, the following are prohibited:
(A) Speech or expression made pursuant to an official duty that tends to compromise or damage the mission, function, reputation, or professionalism of the village or its employees. Speech or expression that, while not made pursuant to an official duty, is significantly linked to, or related to the village and tends to compromise or damage the mission, function, reputation, or professionalism of the village or its employees. Speech or expression of any form that could reasonably be foreseen as creating a negative impact on the safety of the employees of the village.
(B) Use or disclosure, through whatever means, of any information, photograph, video, or other recording obtained or accessible as a result of employment with the village for financial or personal gain, or any disclosure of such materials without the expressed authorization of the employee’s supervisor. Posting, transmitting, or disseminating any photographs, video or audio recordings, likenesses or images of village logos, emblems, uniforms, patches, marked vehicles, equipment, or other material that specifically identifies the village on any personal or social networking or other website or web page without the express written permission of the employee’s supervisor is prohibited. Failure to take reasonable and prompt action to remove any content that is in violation of this subchapter and/or posted by others from any web page or website maintained by the employee (for example, a social or personal website) may result in disciplinary action. Accessing websites for non-authorized purposes, or use of any personal communication device, game device, or media device, whether personally or village-owned, for personal purposes except in the following circumstances: when brief personal communication may be warranted by circumstances (e.g., inform family of extended hours), during authorized breaks; however, such usage should be limited as much as practicable to areas out of sight and sound of the public and shall not be disruptive to the work environment.
(Ord. 2012-O-5, passed 4-17-2012; Ord. 2020-O-16, passed 8-18-2020)