The Village of Botkins Privacy Statement discloses the information gathering practices of the Village regarding visits to the Village’s Web site. This statement applies only to Web sites with the Village’s official domain name (www.botkinsohio.com) in the URL and to sites under contract with the Village to provide online services to the Village.

Information about your visit to our site

The Village of Botkins does not routinely collect or keep personal information about your visit to www.botkinsohio.com. Like most Internet sites, our web site reads some information from your computer that helps us analyze traffic patterns, perform routine maintenance and to help you navigate through our

site. Generally the information we collect is temporary and when you leave the site this information is deleted from our system.

The information the Village automatically collects and stores for these purposes is the following:

• total number of visits to our site
• number of unique visits to our site
• types of computer systems used to access our site
• web browser type and version
• date and time of access
• the web site that may have referred you (linked you) to this web site
• the first and last page you visited in our site

None of the information described above contains personal (identifying) information. For security purposes, and to maintain service for all users, the Village’s network system may use software programs to identify attempts to gain unauthorized access or to damage or misuse the systems or the Village’s web site. In the event that a potential security threat is recognized, identifying information about the user and the questionable computer activity may be retained and reviewed for security and other law-enforcement-related purposes. If you have questions about the information captured about your visit, you may want to contact the

Village’s Web Site Editor at (614) 410-4511 Or by e-mail at administrator@botkinsohio.com

Cookies

The Village of Botkins Web site does use cookies to allow the select font size feature to work. A cookie file contains text information that is sent to your browser – along with the page you are viewing – when you access a website. Many of these cookies will be destroyed when any of the following occurs: a few minutes of inactivity, successfully completing a transaction or when the browser window is closed. In some instances, however, cookie files may persist for a longer duration. If your Web browser does not accept cookies, you will be able to navigate the information content on our site, but you may not be able to use some of the on-line transaction services provided by the Village.

Ordinance No. 10-07

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY FOR THE EMPLOYEES, ADMINISTRATION, APPOINTED OFFICIALS, AND ELECTED

OFFICIALS FOR THE VILLAGE OF BOTKINS.

WHEREAS, the Village of Botkins (“Village”) is currently updating its website which includes the establishment of an official Village social network presence; and

WHEREAS, the Village believes social networking would provide valuable access to both current and potential residents, businesses, and those who have moved away;

WHEREAS, social networking technology, the behavior of its users, and its consequences on sound and responsible government are all concerns;

WHEREAS, the Village Council has deemed it necessary to establish a social media policy which addresses many of these concerns; Now, therefore, be it ordained by the Council of the Village of Botkins, the majority of the members concurring herein that the Village of Botkins does establish the following as its Social Media Policy:

SOCIAL MEDIA

Section 1. Definition

Social Media is defined as user-generated content presented via the Internet. Social media platforms such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc., provide zero publishing costs and access to anyone with Internet capabilities.

Section 2. Purpose

The Village has decided that Social Media is relevant technology for modern communication. The Village will never utilize Social Media as its only form of

communication, but, rather, use it as a tool to complement its already established statutory and voluntary communication outlets. The Village believes that certain citizens are more comfortable communicating through and receiving information from a Social Media platform.

Section 3. Vision

Social Media provides an interactive capability that allows residents and supporters of the community to come together and share information, praise, and criticism. The real-time aspect of Social Media lends itself to crises situations, event reminders, general current events. For this same reason, the Village realizes that the Social Media platform is not well suited for all types of discussion. Complex issues or new issues that the Village faces should be avoided since human interaction is always best to resolve questions and conflicts. Some material, for both practical and legal considerations, may be inappropriate for this medium. Finally, in providing a platform such as this, the Village recognizes that criticism may arise from time to time. Posts that offer thoughtful criticism of the organization and its initiatives, and not individuals, are welcome and shall not be removed or altered except as provided for in the following policy.

Section 4. Ownership and Maintenance of Village-owned accounts

Section 4.1 The Village of Botkins will utilize one central account with desired Social Media networks. Individual departments and employees, including the Fire and Police Departments, will utilize the central account to convey desired communication.

Section 4.2 Management of Social Media accounts and initiatives shall lie primarily within the realm of the Village Administrator.

Section 4.3 A limited number of employees shall have access to Social Media accounts and passwords and permission to post as “Village of Botkins.”

Section 4.4 Elected officials and other employees are not to post, without advance approval, to the Village ofBotkins pages as representatives of the organization.

Section 4.5 Other Village staff members may request that authorized staff post a message from the Village ofBotkins on their behalf.

Section 4.6 Posts to Village pages/accounts from employees’ personal accounts are permitted. Employees are encouraged to disclose their relationship/employment with the Village.

Section 4.7 The Village will strive to share information honestly and openly to receive comments and feedback with an “open mind” in a spirit of collaboration.

Section 4.8 The Village will not post untruthful and purposefully inaccurate information. If an inadvertent inaccuracy is posted, a correction will be published as soon as possible.

Section 4.9 The Village will not edit others’ posts.

Section 4.10 At all times, employees shall use good judgment when posting. Employees shall refrain from posts that may be interpreted as offensive, obscene, demeaning, or inflammatory. Confidential information shall not be posted.

Section 4.11 At times, employees may determine other means/tools are more appropriate ways to respond to citizen/fan posts or may determine that is best not to respond to a post at all.

Section 4.12 In general, individual complaints, concerns, or service requests will not be

addressed via social media.

Section 4.13 Staff members shall resist the temptation to engage in back-and-forth conversation regarding topics that are complex, controversial, heated, or otherwise sensitive.

Section 4.14 Village employees, in consultation with the Village Administrator, will determine when an issue raised by others has reached a “critical mass” that requires a Village response on the account.

Section 5. Guidelines and limitations for all users

Section 5.1 The conversation shall remain civil and respectful always.

Section 5.2 Inaccurate information posted by non-employees may be addressed and corrected, on a factual basis only.

Section 5.3 Personal attacks, vulgar language, discriminatory or inflammatory posts by others are strongly discouraged. If a post is determined to be in violation of this policy, such posts may be removed.

Section 5.4 Elected officials may not post as “Village of Botkins” and are discouraged from discussing campaigns, issues, and other political matters on Village accounts.

Section 5.5 Campaigning – on behalf of political candidates or in support or opposition to issues – is discouraged.

Section 5.6 Political candidates are encouraged to establish their own fan pages and Social Media accounts and are discouraged from using Village of Botkins accounts, pages, etc.

Section 5.7 Repeated violations to this policy may result in removal of access to the service.

Section 5.8 This Social Media Policy shall be revised as needed. Posts to the Village of Botkins Social Mediaaccounts shall constitute acceptance of this policy.

-This ordinance borrows heavily from the City of Suwanee, Georgia. Adopted this 30th day of March, 2010.