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After heated debate, Villa Park trustees adopt elected-officials social media policy
Summary
Following extended debate about free-speech limits, the Villa Park Board of Trustees adopted an elected-officials social media policy Sept. 8; an earlier attempt to amend the policy to exclude one provision failed.
The Villa Park Board of Trustees adopted a social media policy for elected officials during its Sept. 8 special meeting after sustained discussion about whether parts of the draft would chill First Amendment rights.
Trustee O'Fano opened discussion and said he was prepared to pass the draft; Trustee Cordova objected to language he characterised as vague or potentially chilling, including references to “inflammatory content,” limits on use of names without prior approval and a requirement to correct “false, inaccurate or misleading information” without an objective process. The village attorney told the board the policy contains no formal penalties — it is a statement of behavioral standards for elected officials — and enforcement would be internal and political rather than criminal or financial.
Trustees debated whether Section 5 (false and misleading information) should be rewritten positively rather than as a prohibition. Trustee Kumar proposed an amendment to adopt all provisions except Section 5 and revise Section 5 later; that amendment failed on a roll-call vote. The board then voted to adopt the policy as presented, with a roll-call majority in favor.
Several trustees urged civility and accuracy on social media. Trustee Alfano suggested a purpose statement emphasizing that elected officials’ personal social-media use can affect village operations and relationships. Trustee Constatos said the policy is intended to set expectations for current and future officials. Trustee Cordova said he approved most of the policy but remained concerned about vague language and the potential for selective enforcement; he said he would post about the vote.
The attorney confirmed the 2012 policy in the packet had already been superseded by a 2024 policy for village-managed accounts; the new elected-officials policy applies to the conduct of trustees and other elected officials on their personal and public-facing social-media accounts when representing their official capacity. Trustees agreed they could revisit and revise the policy later.
