Social Media Policy

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Executive Summary

This document outlines the Social Media and Public Outreach Policy & Procedure for the Borough of Waldwick, New Jersey. The policy establishes guidelines for the use of social media sites and public outreach tools (including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, the Borough website, electronic signs, email blasts, and Public Access TV PowerPoint) to disseminate Borough-related information to residents, employees, and visitors. It details rules to ensure proper authorization, appropriate content, and clear communication when using these platforms on behalf of the Borough. It also establishes regulations around content and comments that are prohibited on Borough platforms.

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--- Document: Social Media Policy Document ---
SOCIAL MEDIA and PUBLIC OUTREACH POLICY & PROCEDURE – 
BOROUGH OF WALDWICK, NEW JERSEY 
 
PURPOSE 
This  policy  sets  forth  guidelines  for  the  establishment  and  use  by  the  Borough  of  
Waldwick  ("the Borough") of its Social Media sites and public outreach tools (Facebook, 
YouTube, Twitter, Website, Electronic Sign, E-mail Blast, Public Access TV PowerPoint and any 
future approved media – hereinafter collectively “Social Media”) as a means of conveying 
Borough-related information to its residents, employees and visitors. The Borough has an 
overriding interest and expectation in deciding what is “spoken” on behalf of the Borough on its 
Social Media sites and what information get disseminated through its public outreach tools. 
 
The purpose of this Social Media and Public Outreach policy is to establish enforceable rules for 
the use of Social Media by Borough officers and employees when engaged in Borough business.  
Social Media and Public Outreach tools at this time refers to Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, 
Website, Electronic Sign, E-mail Blast, Public Access TV PowerPoint and any other 
communication whether or not such communication is open to response or comment.  Rules are 
necessary to assure that communications made on behalf of the Borough are properly authorized 
and in correct form; that communications to the municipality by means of social media which can 
be viewed by the public are appropriate and pertinent; that all communications to the municipality 
is related to the posted municipal information; and that the sender is clearly and fully informed 
that a message received by means of Social Media is not a substitute for required reporting 
procedures. 
 
For purposes of this policy, “social media” is understood to be content created by individuals, 
using accessible, expandable, and upgradable publishing technologies, through and on the 
Internet. Examples include Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.  “Public Outreach Tools” is 
understood to be content created by individuals and published on the Website, Electronic Sign, E-
mail blast and Public Access TV PowerPoint.  For purposes of this policy, “comments” include 
information, articles, pictures, and any other written or communicated words or phrases. 
 
 


Borough of Waldwick Social Media and Public Outreach Policy 
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SCOPE 
1. This policy shall apply to all Municipal agencies and departments as well as any affiliated 
government or Waldwick sponsored clubs or organizations, and organizations hosting an 
event for a non-profit organization in Waldwick or official and/or commission or council 
permitted by the Borough to post on Borough Social Media sites and Public Outreach 
Tools.  
 
 


Borough of Waldwick Social Media and Public Outreach Policy 
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GENERAL POLICY 
The objective of the use of Social Media and public outreach tools by the Borough or its 
departments is to expand and facilitate the dissemination of information from the Borough to its 
residents, taxpayers and the general public. 
1. 
No Borough Social Media site shall be established without prior approval of the Borough 
Council.  The following Social Media sites and Public Outreach tools are approved under 
the direction of the Borough Administrator or his/her designee – Facebook, YouTube, 
Twitter, Website, Electronic Sign, E-mail Blast and TV Public Access PowerPoint.  The 
Borough Social Media site and public outreach tools shall be administered by the Borough 
Administrator or his/her designee.  The Administrator or his/her designee shall designate a 
representative from any Borough Department or Organization to administer their own 
social media sites in accordance with this policy.   
2. 
The Borough Social Media sites and public outreach tools shall clearly set forth that they 
are maintained by the Borough and that they follow this Social Media and Public Outreach 
Policy. 
3. 
Wherever possible, the Borough Social Media sites should link back to the official 
Borough website for forms, documents, online services and other information necessary to 
conduct business with the Borough. 
4. 
The  Borough  Social  Media  sites  are  not  to  be  used  for  making  any official 
communications to the Borough, for example, reporting crimes or misconduct, reporting 
dangerous conditions, requesting an inspection, giving notice required by any statute by, 
ordinance or regulations such as but not limited to notices of claim. Prominent notice of 
this paragraph shall be displayed on every B o ro ug h Social Media site, along with the 
appropriate contact information for submitting official communications. 
5. 
This Social Media policy shall be placed on the Borough Website and all Borough 
Social Media sites and public outreach tools.   
6. 
The Borough Administrator or his/her designee shall monitor Borough Social Media 
sites and public outreach tools to ensure adherence to both this Social Media and 
Public Outreach Policy and the interest and goals of the Borough. The Borough has the 
right and will restrict or remove any content that is deemed in violation of this Policy 
or any applicable law. Any content removed based on these guidelines will be retained by 


Borough of Waldwick Social Media and Public Outreach Policy 
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the Borough Administrator and/or her/her designee pursuant to the applicable Borough 
retention policy, including the time, date and identity of the poster, when available. 
7. 
These guidelines must be displayed to users or made available by hyperlink. 
8. 
The Borough will approach the use of Social Media tools as consistently as possible, 
Borough-wide. 
9. 
The Borough website at www.waldwicknj.org will remain the Borough’s primary and 
predominant internet presence. 
10. The Borough’s Social Media sites and this Policy are subject to all applicable federal and 
NJ laws and regulations, as well as applicable record retention requirements. 
11. Employees and Volunteers representing  the  Borough's  government  via  its  Social  
Media  sites  shall  conduct themselves at all times as a representative of the Borough and 
in accordance with the Employee Rules and Regulations manual. 
12. This Social Media and Public Outreach Policy may be revised at any time by approval of 
the Borough Council. 
13. This policy governs all Social Media and public outreach tools used by or on behalf of the  
Borough and/or its departments. 
14. The Borough shall have a single municipal presence on Social Media approved for use, a 
Borough Police Twitter account and a Volunteer Fire Department Facebook Page.   
15. All Borough presence and activity on Social Media are an integral part of the Borough’s 
information networks and must comply with all rules and policies governing the 
Borough’s computers and electronic media. 
16. All Borough use of Social Media is responsible for complying with applicable federal, 
state, and county laws, regulations, and policies.  This includes adherence to established 
laws and policies regarding copyright, records retention, Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA), Open Public Record Act (OPRA), First Amendment, privacy laws, sunshine laws, 
and information security policies (if applicable) established by the Municipality. 
17. All Municipal policies are applicable to interactions on Social Media sites when acting in 
an official capacity and representing the Municipality. 
 
 
 


Borough of Waldwick Social Media and Public Outreach Policy 
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COMMENT POLICY 
1. 
As a public entity the Borough must abide by certain standards to serve all its constituents 
in a civil and unbiased manner. 
2. 
The  intended  purpose  behind  establishing  the  Borough  Social  Media  sites and public 
outreach tools  is  to  disseminate information from the Borough about the Borough to its 
residents, employees and visitors. 
3. 
A comment posted by a member of the public on any Borough Social Media site is the 
opinion of the commentator or poster only, and publication of a comment does not imply 
endorsement of, or agreement by, the Borough, nor do such comments necessarily reflect 
the opinions or policies of the Borough. 
4. 
Any attempt to hack or otherwise compromise the Borough’s internet or Social Media 
sites will be reported to law enforcement and the perpetrator will be denied access to the 
sites. 
5. 
The Borough reserves the right to deny access to its Social Media sites for any individual 
who violates the Borough of Waldwick’s Social Media and Public Outreach Policy at any 
time and without prior notice. 
6. 
All comments posted to any Borough sites are bound by any applicable terms and 
conditions of Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, located at 
http://www.facebook.com/terms.php, and the Borough reserves the right to report any 
violation of Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities to Facebook with the 
intent of Facebook taking appropriate and reasonable responsible action.  All Borough 
policies are applicable to interactions on Social Media sites when acting in an official 
capacity and representing the Borough. 
7. 
All comments posted to any Borough sites are bound by any applicable terms and 
conditions of Twitter’s Terms of Service, located at https://twitter.com/tos, and the 
Borough reserves the right to report any violation of Twitter’s Terms of Service to Twitter 
with the intent of Twitter taking appropriate and reasonable responsible action.  All 
Borough policies are applicable to interactions on Social Media sites when acting in an 
official capacity and representing the Borough. 
8. 
All comments posted to any Borough sites are bound by any applicable terms and 
conditions of YouTube’s Terms of Service, located at https://www.youtube.com/t/terms,  


Borough of Waldwick Social Media and Public Outreach Policy 
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and the Borough reserves the right to report any violation of YouTube’s Terms of Service 
to YouTube with the intent of YouTube taking appropriate and reasonable responsible 
action.  All Borough policies are applicable to interactions on Social Media sites when 
acting in an official capacity and representing the Borough. 
9. 
All comments posted to any future Social Media medium or site shall be bound by such 
site’s applicable terms and conditions regarding such posting or commenting. 
10.   No Borough employee, Borough elected official, vendor performing work or providing         
services to the Borough, or volunteer may post or comment on a Borough Social Media site. 
11.   Persons posting prohibited content are subject to being barred from posting comments on     
Borough Social Media. 
 
PROHIBITED CONTENT 
Comments containing any of the following inappropriate forms of content shall not be permitted 
on the Borough’s Social Media sites or public outreach tools and are subject to removal and/or 
restriction by the Borough Administrator or Chief of Police or their designees. 
a. Profane, obscene, violent, or pornographic content and/or language, or sexually 
suggestive or explicit content links to such materials.  Any image or link containing 
minors or suspected minors in sexual and/or provocative situations will be reported 
to law enforcement; 
b. Content that promotes, fosters or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, 
creed, color, age, religion, gender, or national origin, marital status, status with 
regard to public assistance, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation; 
c. Reference to any political party or activity of a political party 
d. Reference to any religious belief 
e. Reference to any private interests group or activity of a private interests group 
f. Defamatory attacks; 
g. Threats to any person or organization; 
h. Solicitation of commerce, including but not limited to advertising of any business or 
product for sale; 
i. Conduct in violation of any federal, state or local law; 
j. Encouragement of illegal activity or illegal activity; 


Borough of Waldwick Social Media and Public Outreach Policy 
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k. Information that may tend to compromise the safety or security of the public or 
public systems; 
l. Content that violates a legal ownership interest, such as a copyright, of any party the 
Borough does not permit or allow copyright infringing activities and/or infringement 
of intellectual property rights on its website or Social Media sites and will remove 
any and all content and submissions if properly notified that such content and/or 
submission infringes on another’s intellectual property rights; 
m. Private contact information such as names, addresses and phone numbers no matter 
how easily obtained elsewhere, unless given approval by the organization; Personal 
information of a person other than the poster; 
n. Spamming or repetitive content; 
o. Comments from children under 13 cannot be posted in order to comply with the 
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.  By posting on a Borough Media site, 
users acknowledge that they are at least 13 years old.  Parents are responsible for any 
minor child’s posting or comments; 
p. Content that incites violence; 
q. Comments unrelated to the particular post being commented upon;   
r. Comments containing vulgar, offensive, threatening or harassing language, personal 
attacks or accusations; and, 
s. Persons posting prohibited content are subject to being blocked and barred from 
posting comments on Borough Social Media. 
 
BREACH OF POLICY 
1. The Borough Administrator or Chief of Police or their designee shall be required to remove 
internet postings on Borough Social Media sites which are deemed to constitute a breach of 
Policy, as determined by the Borough Administrator or Chief of Police subject to applicable 
archiving and retention requirements. 
2. Any Social Media site created by the Borough remains the property of the Borough, 
including all the followers and friends generated by the site. If the person who created the 
site leaves the employment of the Borough, they must immediately relinquish all 


Borough of Waldwick Social Media and Public Outreach Policy 
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information related to the site including user names, passwords and/or access codes or 
information. 
 
 
TERMS OF USE DISCLOSURE (to be posted on all Borough Social Media Sites) 
A. Information Disclaimer 
By visiting this site, you understand and agree that the Borough of Waldwick site is provided 
"AS IS".  Borough of Waldwick makes every effort to provide accurate and complete 
information on this website. The information contained herein is not official nor in any way shall 
it be deemed to constitute legal notice where such legal notice is required by law.  The 
information contained in this site is provided as a service and convenience to people needing 
information about the Borough of Waldwick. Portions of the information on this site may be 
incorrect or not current.  Borough of Waldwick, its officers, employees or agents shall not be 
liable for damages or losses of any kind arising out of or in connection with the use or 
performance of information, including but not limited to, damages or losses caused by reliance 
upon the accuracy or timeliness of any such information, or damages incurred from the viewing, 
distributing, or copying of those materials. 
 
B. Linking Policy -- Links To External Sites 
The Borough of Waldwick site contains links to outside websites. These websites are not owned, 
operated, controlled or reviewed by the Borough of Waldwick. These links are provided solely 
as a courtesy and convenience to you, the visitor. 
 
The Borough of Waldwick, its officers or employees, exercise no control over the organizations, 
views, accuracy, copyright or trademark, compliance or the legality of the material contained in 
these outside websites. The Borough of Waldwick, its officers or employees, do not sponsor, 
endorse, or approve the information, content, proceeds, materials, opinions or services contained 
on such outside websites. The visitor proceeds to these outside websites at his/her own risk. The 
Borough of Waldwick specifically disclaims any and all liability from damages, which may 
result from the accessing of a third-party site, which is linked to the Borough of Waldwick 
website or from reliance upon only such information. 


Borough of Waldwick Social Media and Public Outreach Policy 
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Borough of Waldwick Social Media and Public Outreach Policy 
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C. Endorsement Disclaimer 
Reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use 
of any trade firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and 
does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Borough of Waldwick or 
its officers, employees or agents. 
 
D. Copyright and Trademark Limitations 
Borough of Waldwick makes no warranty that materials contained herein are free of copyright or 
trademark claims or other restrictions or limitations on free use or display. Making a copy of 
such material may be subject to copyright or trademark laws. 
 
E. Use of material from this site 
The Borough of Waldwick has made the content of these pages available to the public and 
anyone may view, copy or distribute Borough of Waldwick  information found here without 
obligation to the Borough of Waldwick for non-commercial, personal use only, unless otherwise 
stated on particular material or information to which a restriction on free use may apply. 
 
The design of this site, original graphics, and original content are all copyrighted by the Borough 
of Waldwick and may not be re-engineered, distributed, modified, transmitted, re-used, reposted, 
or duplicated without the express written permission of the Borough of Waldwick in each 
instance. All requests to use any part of the original design, code, graphics or content of this site 
should be made via e-mail to the Borough Administrator 
 
F. Unauthorized Modifications 
Unauthorized attempts to modify or otherwise alter any information or image stored on any 
Borough of Waldwick website may result in criminal prosecution. 
 
 
 
 
 


Borough of Waldwick Social Media and Public Outreach Policy 
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PROCEDURE: 
 
This procedure sets forth the guidelines to having information posted on the Borough of 
Waldwick’s Social Media sites by an organization other than the Borough.   
 
1. Borough of Waldwick information, Borough events and meeting announcements, and 
emergency notifications take precedent over any other announcements.   
2. Requests, including the text of the proposed messages, must be e-mailed to the Borough 
Administrator and/or his/her designee at least ten (10) days prior to posting the 
information.  The request must contain the following information:  full name of 
organization, time, date and place of the event, contact name, e-mail address and 
telephone number.   
3. Information shall be e-mailed as a Microsoft Word Document in paragraph form (Times 
New Roman, 12 Font), no PDF or fliers will be accepted. 
4. Organization shall include a maximum of two (2) dates of when to post the information. 
5. Information will be disseminated for 2 weeks prior to the event. 
6. Only Waldwick sponsored clubs or organizations, and organizations hosting an event for a 
non-profit organization in Waldwick shall be permitting to seek approval to post 
information on Borough of Waldwick’s Social Media sites and public outreach tools.   
7. Every effort will be made to accommodate all requests.  If many requests are received for 
the same period of time, the postings will be determined on a first come, first serve basis.  
The dates of postings, their duration, and content are the final decision of the Borough 
Administrator and/or his/her designee. 
 
This procedure sets forth the guidelines to having information posted on the Borough of 
Waldwick’s electronic sign by an organization other than the Borough.   
 
1. Borough of Waldwick information, Borough event and meeting announcements, and 
emergency notifications take precedent over any other announcements.   
2. Requests, including the text of the proposed message, must be e-mailed to the Borough 
Administrator and/or his/her designee at least ten (10) days prior to the event.  The request 


Borough of Waldwick Social Media and Public Outreach Policy 
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must contain the following information:  full name of organization, time, date and place of 
the event, contact name, e-mail address and telephone number.  The information requested 
to be posted must be kept to the barest minimum. The sign can hold 3-4 lines of 16-22 
characters, depending on the font size.   
3. Event announcements will be placed on the sign no more than five (5) days prior to the 
event.  Date(s) and duration of postings will be determined by the number of postings 
requested.  Announcement will be removed the following day after the event.  
4.  Only Waldwick sponsored clubs or organizations, and organizations hosting an event for a 
non-profit organization in Waldwick shall be permitting to seek approval to post 
information on Borough of Waldwick’s Social Media sites and public outreach tools.   
5. Every effort will be made to accommodate all requests.  If many requests are received for 
the same period of time, the postings will be determined on a first come, first serve basis.  
The dates of postings, their duration, and content are the final decision of the Borough 
Administrator and/or his/her designee.

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First Discovered

Apr 3, 2026

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