SOUTHWICK – The Select Board has been working with Town Counsel Ben Coyle on finishing up a social media policy for appointed and elected officials in Southwick.
Select Board Chiarman Doug Moglin and Vice Chairman Russ Fox recently attended the Mass Municipal Conference in Boston where many local government officials throughout the commonwealth were talking about their own social media policy or discussing the potential of creating one.
“It’s kind of a hot topic,” said Moglin.
Under the policy that the Town of Southwick has established with Coyle, there are rules and regulations that all appointed and elected officials in town must follow when they’re using all types of electronic media, which includes platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Select Board Chairman Doug Moglin. (WNG File Photo)
In the purpose section of the policy, it is stated: “This policy is designed to promote and govern the professional and personal use of social media in a responsible manner and to avoid uses that can: (1) breach confidentiality by revealing protected information about the Town, its citizens, or its employees; (2) expose the Town to liability for behavior that may be harassing, offensive, or maliciously false; or (3) interfere with productivity and/or ability to perform the duties and responsibilities as Officials of the Town.”
The policy also explains that posting anything regarding town-related matters would violate the open meeting law. The open meeting law is a set of rules and guidelines set forth to interpret what the law means. Town officials are required to document the minutes of every meeting and post the day and time of the meeting a certain number of days before the scheduled meeting.
“You can put yourself in hot water with the open meeting law,” said Moglin.
While every appointed and elected official in Southwick can have a Facebook or other platform of social media, they aren’t allowed to post certain things affecting the open meeting law.
“You have a responsibility to the town to represent yourself but not limiting your ability to speak your opinion,” said Moglin.
In the near future, appointed and elected officials in town will go through ethics training and online training in order to be fully educated with the social media policy.
