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Council adopts updated city cell‑phone policy, bans texting while driving on city devices
Summary
The Freeport City Council unanimously approved Resolution 2025-2911, updating Chapter 5, Section 5.22 of the city policy handbook to clarify expectations for city-issued and personal cell-phone use and disciplinary steps.
The Freeport City Council unanimously approved a revision to the city policy handbook on May 5 that clarifies cell-phone usage for city employees and outlines disciplinary options for violations.
Human-resources presenter Miss Fisher told the council the existing policy dated from 2002 and did not reflect modern workplace cell-phone usage. "This policy that is currently in the policy manual is from the original policy manual that was started 02/2002," Fisher said. "The previous policy banned cell phones in the workplace, which is not reasonable now, but it does attempt to cover any situation that might arise from employees having cell phones in the workplace, so we've gone from a 1 paragraph policy that basically said don't do it to a 2 page policy that spells out expectations when you can and can't have your phone in the workplace."
The revision, adopted as Resolution 2025-2911, applies across city departments and distinguishes city-issued devices from personal phones. Fisher said city-issued phones may be examined upon request while personal phones are not subject to the same examination. The policy also includes strict prohibitions on texting while driving in city work duties and lists potential disciplinary consequences, ranging from verbal or written warnings up to suspension, demotion, or termination depending on severity.
Councilman Matamoros moved to approve the resolution; Councilman Davis seconded. After questions about enforcement, privacy, and which departments receive city-issued phones, the council called the vote and approved the resolution unanimously. The policy will take effect upon approval and will be enforced by department directors and supervisors under existing disciplinary procedures.
The council discussion included clarifications that the policy covers both city-issued and personal phones in the workplace, that personal numbers are treated as private for public-information requests, and that enforcement will be handled locally by supervisors and department directors.
