Indian Trail council holds censure hearing for Councilmember Todd Barber; no final vote recorded

The Indian Trail Town Council heard more than two hours of testimony, legal argument and public comment Tuesday during a censure hearing for Councilmember Todd Barber, who challenged an outside attorney's investigation connecting him to a local Facebook page.

The proceeding opened with an explanation from Town Attorney Melanie Cox that the council had hired an outside lawyer and received a report on March 30. Cox said the hearing was Barber's opportunity to respond to that report. "Tonight is the actual censure hearing, so Mr. Barber can present any evidence and you all can ask any questions," she said.

The hearing alternated between procedural disputes over whether new material could be admitted, Barber's lengthy rebuttal and extensive public comment. Barber repeatedly disputed the investigator's conclusions and presented an affidavit from his wife, Lisa Barber, saying she was the page administrator and that he had no editorial or administrative control. "I have no administrative, no editorial, and no authorship control of the page," Barber said, summarizing the affidavit he submitted. He also said he has filed a grievance with the North Carolina State Bar concerning the investigator's statements about…