The Borough of Northern Cambria (“the Borough,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of information provided by visitors to our official website. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, with whom we may share it, and the choices available to you regarding your information.
By using this website, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the site.
Information We Collect
We collect two categories of information when you visit or interact with our website:
Information you provide voluntarily — When you contact us through our online forms, subscribe to our email newsletter, submit a service request, pay a bill online, or apply for a permit, you may provide:
-
- Name and mailing or service address
- Email address and phone number
- Account or parcel identification numbers related to borough services
- Payment information (processed through a secure third-party payment processor — we do not store full card numbers)
- Any other information you choose to include in a message or form submission
Information collected automatically — Like most websites, our server and analytics tools automatically collect certain technical data when you visit, including:
- IP address and approximate geographic location (city/region level)
- Browser type, version, and operating system
- Pages visited, time spent, and links clicked
- Date and time of your visit
- Referring URL (the page that sent you to our site)
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you believe a child has submitted personal information through this website, please contact us so we can delete it.
How We Use Your Information
The Borough uses the information collected to:
- Respond to inquiries, service requests, and correspondence
- Process payments for water, garbage, taxes, permits, and other borough services
- Send you email newsletters or emergency notifications you have opted into
- Manage permit applications and other government processes
- Analyze website usage to improve performance, accessibility, and content
- Comply with Pennsylvania law, including the Right-to-Know Law and applicable records retention requirements
- Protect the security and integrity of borough systems
We do not sell, rent, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties for commercial marketing purposes.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website may use cookies — small text files stored on your device — and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience and collect usage statistics. Cookies used on this site may be:
- Session cookies — temporary files that expire when you close your browser, used to maintain your session while navigating the site.
- Analytics cookies — used by tools such as Google Analytics to help us understand how visitors use the site in aggregate. This data is anonymized and not linked to individual identities.
You may configure your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. Disabling cookies may limit some functionality of the website. We do not respond to “Do Not Track” signals at this time, though no personal data is sold regardless.
<h2″>Sharing of Information
We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:
- Service providers — Third-party vendors who assist in operating the website or processing payments (e.g., our online bill-payment processor). These vendors are contractually obligated to use your information solely to provide services to the Borough and to protect it appropriately.
- Legal requirements — As a government entity, records held by the Borough of Northern Cambria may be subject to disclosure under Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.). We may also disclose information when required by court order, law enforcement request, or other legal obligation.
- Emergency situations — If necessary to protect the health, safety, or property of individuals or the public.
- Other government agencies — When legally required or permitted to fulfill a government function (e.g., reporting to county or state authorities).
</h2″>
Online Payments and Financial Data
Online bill payments are processed through a secure, third-party payment gateway. When you pay a water, garbage, tax, or other bill online:
- Your payment card information is transmitted directly to and stored by the payment processor using industry-standard encryption (TLS/SSL).
- The Borough does not receive or store your full credit or debit card numbers.
- The processor’s own privacy policy governs how they handle your financial data. We encourage you to review it before making a payment.
Data Security
The Borough takes reasonable technical and administrative measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:
- Secure HTTPS connections across the website
- Access controls limiting who can view submitted data
- Regular review of our data practices and third-party service providers
However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. In the event of a data breach that affects your rights, we will notify affected individuals in accordance with applicable Pennsylvania law.
Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to external websites operated by other government agencies, community organizations, or third parties. These linked sites are not under the control of the Borough of Northern Cambria, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices or content. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.
Your Rights and Choices
Depending on how you interact with us, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Access and correction — You may request access to personal information we hold about you and ask us to correct inaccuracies.
- Email opt-out — If you have subscribed to borough email updates or notifications, you may unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email or by contacting us directly.
- Records requests — To request records under Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law, contact the Borough’s Open Records Officer.
To exercise any of the above rights, please contact us using the information in Section 10 below.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or applicable law. When we make changes, we will update the “Last Reviewed” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how the Borough handles your information, please contact us:
- Mail: Borough of Northern Cambria, 1202 Philadelphia Avenue, Northern Cambria, PA 15714
- Phone: (814) 948-8230
- Email: ncbfrontdesk@northerncambriaborough.net
- Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
This Privacy Policy was prepared by the Borough of Northern Cambria for informational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal questions, please consult a qualified attorney.
