Councilmember Cobb proposes ordinances to limit review of city emails, restrict political use of city accounts and add council oversight of city property

Councilman Cobb reported from the Administrative Services Committee that he had drafted several ordinances to revise Chapter 105 and Chapter 121 of the city code to address email access, political use of city communication channels, and council oversight of city property.

Cobb said he expanded a mayoral proposal on email rules to include city employees and contractors and that he had drafted a separate amendment, Section 105.04, “to prohibit the review or access of city email accounts of employees or elected officials without consent or lawful approval pursuant to the Ohio Public Records Law.” He told the council, “I believe this legislation is necessary because, the mayor has been reading the city council emails.”

He also described a proposed Section 105.05 to “prohibit the use of city social media accounts and email systems for political messaging and limiting their use to official informational purposes.” Finally, he said he drafted an amendment to Chapter 121.05 to give council oversight over decisions concerning the control, care and use of city property; he cited as a motivating fact his understanding that a surveillance camera had been installed to view the law department entry.

Cobb asked the law director to review the drafted changes for form; no ordinances were introduced or adopted at the June 30 meeting. Cobb said the Committee will seek to bring the measures back for council consideration after law review.