Internet Privacy Policy Statement and Disclaimer
Introduction
The City of Farmington Hills is committed to providing web
users with convenient and secure e-government services. We are
also dedicated to protecting the privacy of our users. The
following information will explain why information is collected
when you visit our site, how that information is used and if it is
shared with any third parties.
In no event shall the City of Farmington Hills or its agencies,
officers, employees, agents, or representatives be liable for any
direct, indirect, special, punitive, incidental, exemplary or
consequential damages arising from your accessing or using the web
site, including but not limited to any disruption in service, or
otherwise arising from the web site or from anything contained in
or displayed on the web site. Nothing contained in or displayed on
this web site constitutes or is intended to constitute legal
advice by the City or any of its agencies, officers, employees,
agents, attorneys, or representatives.
Data Collection
The City of Farmington Hills does collect information about
visitors to the site. This information is used for analytical and
statistical purposes to help better manage the site. Information
that is collected includes the date and the type of browser being
used. We use this information to learn how many visitors we have,
where they are coming from, which parts of our web site are of
most interest to users and other facts that will help us improve
the web site and the services we offer.
Use of Cookies
The City of Farmington Hills uses cookies that are pieces of
information generated by our web server and stored on the end
user's computer for future access. The City does not store any
user's personal identifying information (such as name, address
etc.), but keeps track of actions taken on the site. This helps us
to avoid presenting repetitive information to users before they
access the various e-government applications on the City's web
site. We believe that this use of cookies does not compromise the
user's privacy and security. At any time, users have the
capability to turn off the cookies using their browser settings.
Sending of E-mail
If you send us an electronic mail message, either through your
mail program or by using one of the online Contact forms, we will
only use the personally identifying information to respond to the
request. We may direct your message to another government agency
that can help in fulfilling your request. This personally
identifying information will not be shared with any third party or
other governmental agencies not directly handling your request.
Online Transactions
Every effort is made to protect any sensitive personal
information you give online. This site uses a secure server for
conducting online financial transactions. All credit cards and
other payment information that you transmit will be protected by
encryption technology, provided that your browser is properly
configured and your computer is operating properly. The encrypted
information is shared only with our bank and a third party credit
card application service provider, Official Payments, who also
operate secured servers. Access to these records is limited to a
very small number of employees who need it in order to perform a
specific job.
In addition to the preceding terms and conditions the City, its
officers, employees, agents, or representatives, shall not be
liable for any damages of any kind arising from your use of the
online bill-pay service, including any non-authorization of a
user's payment by any entity involved in the processing of any
online transaction including but not limited to your credit card
company, any applicable governmental authority's non-acceptance of
a payment from an online bill-pay user, or for any disruptions in
service of the online bill-pay service, regardless of the cause.
The City further assumes no responsibility for the timeliness,
deletion, mis-delivery, or failure to store any user
communications or personalization of settings.
Completion of a payment transaction using the online bill-pay
service is contingent upon: 1) the authorization of payment by all
entities involved in the processing of any online transaction
including your applicable credit card company; 2) the acceptance
of your payment by the relevant governmental authority or other
entity you are attempting to pay; and 3) payment of the online
bill-pay transaction fee. If, for any reason whatsoever your
payment is not processed, authorized, or accepted by any entity
involved in the processing of any online bill-pay transaction your
payment liability shall remain outstanding and unpaid and you may
be subject to late fees, interest charges, penalties, shut-off, or
other actions where applicable. All outstanding payment
obligations shall remain your sole responsibility. You understand,
accept, and agree to pay to the City any and all fees and/or
penalties associated with the submission of any payment
transaction that is returned by any bank or other depository
financial institution for insufficient funds or any other error on
your part.
Sale of Data from the Web Site
The City will not rent, sell or give away any personally
identifying information entered into the web site (name, address,
phone number, etc…) to third parties for marketing or mailing list
purposes without your permission. We will also not disclose credit
card information, except for purposes related to your transaction
or as required by law.
Links to Other Web Sites
This site provides links to other web sites, including those
run by the State of Michigan, the Federal Government and various
state authorities. This privacy policy applies only to the
following domain names owned by the City:
www.ci.farmington-hills.mi.us
www.costickcenter.org
www.f2h.org
www.farmington-hills.mi.info
www.farmington-hills.mi.net
www.farmington-hills.mi.org
www.farmington-hills.mi.us
www.fhgolfclub.org
www.fhgov.com
www.fhready.org
www.jongrantcenter.org
www.longacrehouse.org
www.thelongacrehouse.org
www.farmingtonhillsmi.gov
www.fh-egov.com
www.fh-email.com
and to the third-party sites that provide Internet-related
services for the City under contract. All links are reviewed for
appropriateness prior to being included.
Non-governmental links are generally not included in the site.
Exceptions to this linking policy can be made by the Department of
Central Services when it is determined by the Director that a
public need exists. Such examples could include citywide events or
public-private partnerships that impact City programs. Any links
provided to non-governmental web sites are not controlled,
maintained, or regulated by the City or any organization
affiliated with the City, and as such the City is NOT responsible
for the content of those web sites. Use of information obtained
from those web sites is voluntary, and reliance on that
information should only be undertaken after an independent review
of its accuracy. Reference at those web sites to any specific
commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark,
or otherwise DOES NOT constitute or imply endorsement,
recommendation, or preference by the City. All sites included on
its web site are screened, but the content they possess cannot be
controlled. Any inappropriate information or links they have on
their site that pertains to the City, or related activities,
should be reported to the City and can be emailed to
webmaster@fhgov.com.
Disclosure to third parties
As a governmental agency, the City is subject to the Freedom of
Information Act, MCL §15.231 et seq. Any information
received through use of the site may be subject to the same
provisions as information provided on paper.
Security
For site security purposes and to ensure that this service
remains available to all users, the City employs commercial
software designed to monitor network traffic to identify
unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or
otherwise cause damage. Unauthorized attempts to upload
information or change information on this service are strictly
prohibited and may be punishable by law.
Code of Conduct
By use of this website, community members and City of
Farmington Hills employees agree to comply with this Internet
Privacy Policy Statement and Disclaimer. Use of language
inappropriate to minors, threatening/malicious comments, or
offensive comments based on protected status or class under
applicable law are prohibited.
City employees using this website shall comply with all City
policies related to workplace harassment and discrimination, use
of Internet technologies, and use of City property.
