Prepared by: Lewis H. George, Jr., Town Administrator
Presentation Date: January 22, 2003
Adoption Date: January 22, 2003

A POLICY

TOWN OF ELKTON WEBSITE

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Commissioners of the Town of Elkton have established a website, specifically townofelkton.org, hereinafter “the Website”; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Commissioners have determined that a formal policy should be established regarding the use and maintenance of its Website to best serve the public interest, particularly with regard to the citizens of the Town of Elkton and surrounding community; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Commissioners have further determined that citizens should have an effective, efficient and convenient resource of information about their government, their elected officials and their staff, community organizations, special events and community-oriented activities.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ESTABLISHED, A POLICY REGARDING THE TOWN’S WEBSITE, AS FOLLOWS:

PURPOSE & GOAL

The Town of Elkton’s Website is intended to provide information about Elkton’s government, its elected officials and, generally, activities, events and special circumstances affecting the public. The website is not intended for use by persons in the community to express their individual opinions or to create a discussion of matters relating to personal matters.

The goal of the Town’s Website is to encourage public involvement and citizen participation in their local government by making public information more readily available, to keep the public informed, and to offer both a method and a basis of information to effectively, efficiently and conveniently interact and communicate with their government. Additionally, resource information via other website links shall be created and maintained to further the usefulness of the Website.

MARYLAND PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT

Maryland’s Public Information Act (“MPIA”), Title 10, Subtitle 6, Part III, State Government Article, grants the public a broad right of access to records that are in the possession of the State and local government. The MPIA provides that citizens have a right to inspect government records, except as otherwise provided by the MPIA or other law(s), including electronic information. Consequently, information posted on the Town’s website shall be in compliance with the MPIA.

WEBSITE LINKS

Links to other governments, governmental agencies, community and civic organizations, educational institutions, and other information resources which the Mayor and Commissioners feel are pertinent to the public interest may be posted on the Town’s Website.

The following links shall be created and maintained on the Town’s Website:

• Elkton’s Elected Leadership
• Meeting Minutes, Ordinance, Resolutions, Public Notices
• Administration Office
• Elkton Police Department
• Building & Zoning Department
• Finance Department
• Department of Public Works
• Department of Parks & Recreation
• Human Resources
• Department of Planning
• Cecil County Government
• Cecil County Public Schools
• Cecil County Magazine
• Historic Elk Landing, Inc.
• Elkton Alliance, Inc./Greater Elkton Chamber of Commerce
• Local Events
• Local Weather Information
• Maryland Manual On-Line: A Guide to Maryland Government
• Other sites deemed appropriate by the Mayor and Commissioners

The following links shall not be created or maintained on the Town’s Website:

• Candidates for elected offices in any local, state or federal government
• Political or other organizations advocating a position on any local, state or federal issue
• Commercial entities
• Individual or personal home pages
• Other sites deemed inappropriate by the Mayor and Commissioners

DISCLAIMER

The materials and information contained on or obtained from the Website are distributed “as is” without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including without limitation, warranties of title or implied warranties of merchantability of fitness for a particular purpose. Information contained on the Website, including information obtained from external links thereon, is provided without representation of any kind with regard to its accuracy or its content, and should be verified by the user. The Town of Elkton is not responsible for any special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages that my arise from the use of, or the inability to use, the Website and/or the materials contained on the site whether the materials contained on the Website are provided by the Town of Elkton or by a third party. Information contained on the Website is subject to change without notice.

CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS

This Policy may be changed, amended, revised or modified from time to time by the affirmative action of the Board and a copy of this policy shall be made available to the public upon request to: Town of Elkton, Administration Office, 100 Railroad Avenue, P. O. Box 157, Elkton, MD 21922-0157. Telephone: (410) 398-0970 Facsimile: (410) 392-6633 E-Mail:

End of Section

Attest:

Lewis H. George, Jr.
Town Administrator

The Mayor and Commissioners of the Town of Elkton

Joseph L. Fisona, Mayor

Jean A. Broomell, Commissioner

John K. Burkley, II, Commissioner

C. Gary Storke, Commissioner