Town of Arlington, Mass.
On Nov. 6, 2000, the Board of Selectmen approved the first policy for the town's Web site. Minor changes suggested then have been included.
Mission statement
1. Provide accurate, helpful and timely information about the Town of Arlington for the general public;
2. Use emerging Internet technology, as it matures, to improve Town services;
3. Promote the interests of the Town in concert with Arlington's goals;
4. Encourage participation in Town government; and
5. Provide ongoing education aimed at increasing understanding about how the Town operates.
Policy
1.) General disclaimer:
The inclusion of unofficial material on this site, and pages linked from this site, in no way implies an endorsement by the Town of Arlington. The materials that constitute this Web site have been prepared by the Town of Arlington for informational purposes only and are presented without any representation or warranty whatsoever regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. Viewers of this Web site should not act upon this information without verifying its accuracy with the Town of Arlington. The information contained in this Web site is provided only as general information, which may or may not reflect the most current information about the Town of Arlington.
2.) Hyperlinks:
Links to information on sites other than those operated by or on behalf of the Town of Arlington are for the convenience of the public only and are not an endorsement or recommendation of those sites. The Town of Arlington does not control or provide any content or information at these sites nor make any representation or warranty with respect to these sites or their content or operate or take responsibility for information. The Town of Arlington neither endorses nor is responsible for the accuracy or reliability of such content or information and its use thereof is solely at the user's risk. The Webmaster has placed initial links. Subsequent links are not subject to Town control. The Webmaster reserves the right to sever links to information that is outdated and is no longer useful to a site visitor.
3.) Acceptable use:
With access to computers and people throughout the world also comes the availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value in the context of a Town-government Web site. The Town of Arlington has taken available precautions, which are limited, to restrict access to controversial materials. However, on a global network it is impossible to control all materials and an industrious user may discover controversial information. Those who control the Town of Arlington Web site firmly believe that the valuable information and interaction available on the Internet far outweigh the possibility that users may procure material that is not consistent with Town goals. In general, links at Arlington Online must follow these guidelines:
1. The Town of Arlington reserves the right to remove a link to content deemed obscene or grossly inappropriate;
2. The link must be Arlington-related;
3. The source of the link should be clear to any user thereof;
4. In general, the link should be non-commercial, though this site makes exceptions for the listing of Web links to Town businesses;
5. The link must provide a legitimate and lawful service;
6. The link must be connected to a legitimate and lawful Web presence;
7. The Webmaster must approve any new link to the site. The person seeking the link must request it from the Webmaster, provide verifying information about the source of the link and cite Nos. 2 through 6 above as justification for the link. If a link is denied, the person requesting it may first appeal to the Data Processing Advisory Board. If a link is denied by the Data Processing Advisory Board, the person requesting it may appeal to the Board of Selectmen as the chief policy making body of the Town.
4.) Political links:
Arlington Online posts links to political content by following the rules outlined in sections 2. and 3. above as well as adhering to these guides:
1. Political links will be established on a page that is separate from other town information. This page will include the following disclaimer: (the following links are) "for the convenience of the public only and are not an endorsement or recommendation of those sites."
2. All persons and groups, regardless of political views, have equal access to the Town's Web site.
3. In assuring equal access, a candidate may request that the Webmaster establish a link, or the Webmaster may solicit a link.
4. For the Webmaster to establish a link, the individual candidate involved must have some connection to the Town of Arlington, whether by residency or jurisdiction of the office sought.
5. For the Webmaster to establish a link, the Town Clerk must have recorded the individual candidate involved as on the ballot for an upcoming election.
6. The Webmaster will not help a political candidate create a Web site; he or she will consider only a link to a site already established.
5.) Oversight
The Arlington Board of Selectmen is the ultimate authority regarding policy governing the Town's Web site. The Webmaster aims to carry out Town Web policies day-to-day, but he/she is subject to the authority of the Town Manager. These policies may include defining the look and feel of the Web site or deciding who may post information to the site. Complaints about any aspect of Web policy should be brought first to the attention of the Webmaster and then the Town Manager. If a complainant is unsatisfied, he or she may appeal to the Board of Selectmen.
The Board of Selectmen reserves the right to make changes in Web policy at any time.
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