The Village of Westfield Website Privacy Policy

A Privacy Partnership

At this Website, we attempt to protect your privacy to the maximum extent possible. However, because some of the information we receive through this Website is subject to the New York State Public Officers Law, we cannot ensure absolute privacy. Information that you provide to us through this site may be made available to members of the public under the law. This policy informs you of the information that we collect from you at this site, what we do with it, to whom it may be disseminated, and how you can access it. Based on this information, you can make an informed choice about your use of this site. You can maximize the benefits of your privacy partnership with the Village by making informed choices about whether to share personally identifiable information with us through this site.

Personally Identifiable Information

We use the term “personally identifiable information” to mean any information that could reasonably be used to identify you, including your name, address, e-mail address, Social Security number, birth date, bank account information, credit card information, or any combination of information that could be used to identify you. This site collects voluntary information from you only from the emails or on-line forms that you send through this site. These emails and on-line forms will contain personally identifiable information. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.

Information Automatically Collected and Stored by this Site

This site does not collect “cookies,” but does collect and store indefinitely your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, (which does not identify you as an individual), as well as information about the date and time of your visit, whether a file you have requested exists, and how many “bytes” of information were transmitted to you over the Web from this site. Cookies are files that a Website can place on your computer. A cookie file contains unique information that a Website can use to track such things as your password, lists of Web pages you have visited, and the date when you last looked at a specific Web page, or to identify your session at a particular Website. A cookie file allows the Website to recognize you as you click through pages on the site and when you later revisit the site. We use your IP address to assess the frequency of visits to this site and popularity of its various pages and functions. We will not attempt to match any personally identifiable information which you provide to us with your IP address, unless there are reasonable grounds to believe that doing so would provide information that is relevant and material to a criminal investigation.

Dissemination of Your Personally Identifiable Information

We do not sell any personally identifiable information collected through this Website. However, once you voluntarily submit personally identifiable information to us through an email or on-line forms, its dissemination is governed by the Public Officers Law, and other applicable laws and regulations. For this reason, part or all of the information you send us may be provided to a member of the public in response to a public records request. Additionally, the information that you voluntarily submit will be disclosed only to Village employees or officials as needed for purposes of fulfilling their job responsibilities. They will only use the information to answer your questions, respond to any requests for assistance, and fulfill the Village’s legal obligations. Where appropriate, we may provide the information submitted by you to the person or company that is the subject of your inquiry, or to a government agency responsible for the matters referred to in your communication. Currently, the Village of Westfield does not knowingly collect personal information from children or create profiles of children through this Website. You are cautioned that the collection of personal information provided by any individual in an email will be treated the same as information given by an adult, and may, if not protected by federal or State law, be subject to public access. The Village encourages parents and teachers to be involved in children's Internet activities and guide the children whenever children are asked to provide personal information on-line.

Security

Because this site does not encrypt incoming email, you should not send information that you consider highly sensitive through this Website. We use standard security measures to ensure that your personally identifiable information is not lost, misused, altered, or unintentionally destroyed. We also use software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. Except for authorized law enforcement investigations, no attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits.

Links Disclaimer

In order to provide visitors with certain information, this Website provides links to local, State and federal government agencies, and Websites of other organizations. A link does not constitute an endorsement of the content, viewpoint, accuracy, opinions, policies, products, services or accessibility of that Website. Once you link to another Website from this Website, including one maintained by the Village of Westfield, you are subject to the terms and conditions of that Website, including, but not limited to, its privacy policy.

Copyright Information

Reproduction in whole or in part of any photographs, maps, and illustrations without prior written permission from the copyright holders is strictly prohibited.

Information Disclaimer

Information provided on this Website is intended to allow the public immediate access to public information. While all attempts are made to provide accurate, current, and reliable information, the Village recognizes the possibility of human and/or mechanical error. Therefore, the Village of Westfield, its employees, officers and agencies make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, currency, or suitability of the information provided by this Website, and deny any expressed or implied warranty as to the same.

Contact Information

For questions about your privacy while using this Website, please contact the Village of Westfield, 23 Elm Street, Westfield, NY 14787; (716) 326-4961; or email: info@villageofwestfield.org.