2.55.540 Cellular phone policy.
The town will provide cellular telephones and service for certain public works and other workers for use on bona fide town business upon obtaining a signed cellular phone agreement between the town and said employee(s) which will refer to the provisions set forth herein; employees who abuse this policy for whatever reason may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
(1) Assignment of town-owned cellular phones shall be considered under one or more of the following conditions:
(a) Job responsibilities require an employee to be away from regular land line access for long periods of time and communication by the employee is necessary to fulfill job objectives.
(b) The employee’s role carries responsibilities such that the ability to conduct two-way communication is necessary at all times.
(c) Providing customers and citizens with a cellular phone number to communicate with said employee is pertinent and providing customers and citizens with personal cellular phone numbers is not allowed.
(d) Assigning employees town-owned cellular phones would assist in establishing requirements for the purpose of two-way communications with supervisors, other staff, customers, citizens, and the mayor. Specifically, requiring that town-owned cellular phones be fully charged and kept on their person during their regularly scheduled shifts and put forth their best efforts to answer and respond to calls, texts, and emails from their supervisors, other staff, customers, and the mayor in a timely manner.
(2) Employees have no right to privacy with respect to the use of a town-owned cellular phone. This includes any and all voicemails, social media messaging, emails, text messages, call history and/or any other information stored on a cellular phone, regardless of whether stored in the device or in remote sites and/or with remote services. The town has the right to inspect any and all town-owned cellular phones used by employees for such information at any time and without notice.
(3) All types of messages, whether created or received, are the property of the town of Cathlamet and will generally be considered to be public records, with certain exceptions, and therefore will be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Public Disclosure Act, Chapter 42.17 RCW, and the public will be deemed to have the right to examine most public records. If there is concern about potential public disclosure of the substance of a communication, then any town devices should not be used.
(4) Town-owned cellular phones are property of the town and are authorized to be used to conduct town business as outlined below:
(a) Use of town phones for local personal phone calls should be kept to a minimum; an employee’s misuse of town services or telephones (including cellular) can result in disciplinary action including termination.
(b) Cellular phone use in violation of any local, state, or federal law is prohibited. Cellular phone use in violation of town or department work policies or for the purpose of personal financial gain is prohibited. Cellular phones may not be used for blogging, jokes, gambling, games, or social networking (e.g., Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.). Cellular phone use for any discriminatory remarks or purposes is strictly prohibited.
(c) Cellular phone use and text messaging with a town-owned or privately owned cellular phone is prohibited while the employee is operating a town-owned motor vehicle, except as provided in RCW 46.61.667. Speaking on the cellular phone while driving should be done only with a hands-free device.
(5) Employees’ responsibilities regarding town-owned cellular phones are:
(a) Protect the town-owned cellular phone from theft, loss, or damage.
(b) Immediately report loss or theft of a town-owned cellular phone to your supervisor. If town property or devices are lost, damaged, or broken the entrusted employee must submit a formal request to the clerk-treasurer for the purchase or replacement of said town property or devices.
(c) As cellular phone calls are not secure, use discretion while making calls of a sensitive or confidential nature.
(d) Immediately return the cellular phone to your supervisor if it is deemed that the phone is no longer necessary for your job or upon leaving employment with the town. Town property, including cellular phones, must be returned to the town within five days upon an employee’s dismissal or termination or as otherwise requested by the mayor or their supervisor. (Ord. 624 § 6, 2020; Ord. 518 § 2, 2009)