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Village discusses social‑media policy, staff capacity and legal risks; no vote taken
Summary
At a July 28 Committee of the Whole meeting, village counsel and outside attorneys briefed trustees on a proposed social‑media policy, emphasizing First Amendment limits, FOIA and records‑retention obligations, staffing and insurance uncertainties; trustees asked questions but the policy was not voted on in this session.
Village of Mundelein trustees heard a legal briefing July 28 on a proposed village social‑media policy that would govern official accounts, staff posts and guidance for elected officials, but took no formal vote at the Committee of the Whole meeting.
The presentation was led by Kelly, an attorney from the village's outside law firm, with Lynn Monroe (village staff) moderating and Ruth (law firm) present; Kelly told trustees the principal legal constraints are federal First Amendment doctrine and Illinois record‑keeping and open‑meetings laws. “If you open [comments] up to the public, you’ve created a forum,” Kelly said, explaining limits on content regulation and the legal exposure that can follow. Kelly added, “Disclaimer. Disclaimer,” urging trustees to keep personal pages clearly personal.
Kelly and staff explained why the village currently disables public comments on its official accounts: moderating comments requires dedicated staff and technology, and allowing comments can trigger obligations under the Illinois Local Records Act, the Freedom of Information…
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