2009 - 03-16-09 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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BOOK 24 FAGF 705 1) Routine - Routine communications involve general, non-controversial subject matter such as weekly department columns and group registration announcements. Routine communications may be handled by appropriate personnel within each department, in accordance with department protocol and without prior consent of the County Manager. 2) Priority/Emergency - Priority/Emergency communications involve existing or potential threats to public safety/welfare/property, issues that may affect the County's image or citizen confidence in their government or issues that have the potential to become controversial in some way. The County Manager, or his designee, should be consulted with and review any materials that may be released or given out on issues of this nature prior to release and/or prior to speaking with a media representative. Prior approval is not necessary involving initial communications related to response to hazardous situations where public safety and welfare are in imminent danger. Internal Communications Internal communications is recognized as being vitally important to the effectiveness of the organization. It shall be each employee's responsibility to read and understand the various printed materials and to seek information by frequently checking and reading the County's Intranet, internal e-mail notifications, Mass Mailers, announcements, and monthly LeeOutloud newsletter. Further, it is the responsibility of employees disseminating information internally to ensure that all staff that may not have e-mail access be made aware of the communication being provided. External Communications It shall be the policy of the County that the person releasing information to the public, release the same information to all staff via the County's Intranet. Hard copies and/or e-mail attachments shall be provided to key personnel who may need to respond to citizen inquiries generated by the release. Also, consideration shall be given to provide hard copies to appropriate personnel both within and outside of the affected department(s) that may need to respond to the public. Regardless of the type of communication, all information is to be presented in a factual manner with limited, to no editorializing of the information. It is recognized that on occasion subjective information in order to fully explain the County's position on a particular topic may need to be provided. External communications are divided into four areas: A) News releases B) Media interaction C) Public records D) Public information materials A) News Releases News releases are external documents that are distributed to radio, print media, television, etc. News releases should be prepared using the standard news release form (see Attachment A). Routine news releases may be sent in accordance with department protocol and should be distributed to all appropriate or affected internal staff and departments. 2