Ownership and Access of Electronic Mail, Internet Access, and Computer Files

• The City owns the rights to all data and files in any computer, network, or other information system used in the City.
• The City also reserves the right to monitor electronic mail messages (including personal/private/instant messaging systems) and their content, as well as any and all use of the Internet and of computer equipment used to create, view, or access e-mail and Internet content.
• Employees must be aware that the electronic mail messages sent and received using City equipment are not private and are subject to viewing, downloading, inspection, release, and archiving by City officials at all times.
• The City has the right to inspect any and all files stored in private areas of the network or on individual computers or storage media in order to assure compliance with policy and state and federal laws.
• No employee may access another employee's computer, computer files, or electronic mail messages without prior authorization from either the employee or thier department head.

Since there is the possibility that any message could be shared with or without your permission or knowledge, the best rule to follow in the use of electronic mail for non-work-related information is to decide if you would post the information on the office bulletin board with your signature.

It is a violation of City policy for any employee, including system administrators and supervisors, to access electronic mail and computer systems files to satisfy curiosity about the affairs of others. Employees found to have engaged in such activities will be subject to disciplinary action.