Privacy Statement

Privacy Policy
for the Official Website of Salem, Massachusetts


Individuals who visit the City of Salem, Massachusetts website are important to us. Because visitors to our website and online resources are important, we do not capture personal information about them without their permission. We endeavor to collect only the minimum amount of information needed to meet the purposes for which the website was created.

Public Disclosure
All information collected on the City website will be treated the same as any written communication and is subject to the confidentiality and public disclosure provisions of 1 MRSA Chapter 13.

PRIVACY STATEMENT
Visitors to the City Website
We may collect some or all of the following information about visitors who view or download information from our websites:
The information we collect is used to improve the content of our web services and help us understand how people are using our services. We analyze our website logs to continually improve the value of the materials available on our site. The information in our website logs is not personally identifiable, and we make no attempt to link it with the individuals that browse our website.

Personally Identifiable Information
"Personally identifiable information" is information about a person that is readily identifiable to that specific individual. It includes, for example, an individual's name, street address, e-mail address, or phone number.


Personally identifiable information will not be collected unless you voluntarily send an e-mail message, fill out and send an online form, or fill out personal information and send in a survey. Your choice not to participate in these activities will not impair your ability to access certain information or obtain a service online.

Unless specifically protected under state law, any information provided may be inspected by the public or disclosed in a legal proceeding.

E-mail Senders
E-mail messages, sent to the City Website, will be treated the same as any other written communication. They may be subject to public inspection or legal disclosure and may be saved for a period of time before they are destroyed. E-mail or other information requests sent to the municipal website may be maintained in order to respond to the request, forward that request to the appropriate agency, or to provide the web designer with valuable customer feedback to assist in improving the site. E-mail addresses obtained as a result of a request to the municipal site will not be sold or given to private companies for marketing purposes.
 
Electronic Form Filers
Any other information provided by a visitor at the request of the City, such as the completion and electronic filing of a form, will be considered to be voluntarily provided by the visitor and will be treated in the same manner as information provided in written form or in person during a visit to the agency. Information provided may be subject to public inspection and legal disclosure and may be saved for a period of time before it is destroyed.

Surveys
Surveys will be used for the purpose stated. If personally identifiable information is collected it may be subject to public inspection and legal disclosure and may be saved for a period of time before it is destroyed.
 
Email Subscribers
The the City collects, retains and utilizes the email address of Website visitors only when they volunteer to subscribe to document folders on the municipality's Website. The information is used to administer subscriber accounts and to provide documents requested by Email Subscribers. Records containing personal information about Email Subscribers are confidential and may only be released with the express written permission of the subscriber pursuant to the provisions of 1 MRSA Chapter 14.
 
Cookies
Definition: Cookies are small text files that a web server may ask your web browser to store, and to send back to the web server when needed. Cookies may be used to store a transaction identifier or other information a user may provide.
 
We do not use cookies in order to track your visit to our website.

Contact Information
To offer comments about the City website or about information presented in this Privacy Statement, contact the Information Technology Department at 978-825-3608 or email mkillen@salem.com.