Indian Trail council will hold May 13 hearing after outside report finds councilmember likely affiliated with controversial Facebook page

An independent outside review delivered to the Indian Trail Town Council concluded that circumstantial evidence indicates Councilmember Todd Barber maintains an affiliation with a Facebook page named the Indian Trail Weasel Report and that the page’s history and content are likely to mislead the public and undermine confidence in local government.

Council member Clarence read portions of the April report by attorney Daniel E. Peterson on April 8. Peterson stated he reviewed the Facebook page’s history, advertising records and prior iterations and concluded the page retains a digital trail linking it to Barber’s earlier political page. The report said cosmetic name changes do not erase that link and that posts predating a name change appear to the public as if authored by the weasel page rather than by Barber’s political page.

"A reasonable member of the public would conclude that Councilman Barber is affiliated with, or responsible for the posts made on the weasel," the report says in its findings, which cite the town’s social-media policy and code of ethics, including a requirement that board members "shall strive to be truthful and provide information in a factual and objective manner as to not mislead the public." The report also noted Barber’s public appearances with the page mascot and stated that Barber’s claimed distance from the page does not remove the misleading impression created by the digital record.

The council discussed enforcement options and whether to censure Barber. Barber said he received the report last week and asked for time to prepare a response and to secure legal counsel; he requested up to four months to prepare. Other council members said the public and staff have waited long enough and argued for a shorter preparation window.

After discussion, the council voted to schedule a hearing on May 13 to consider whether to censure Barber; the hearing will be an agenda item at a council meeting. Councilmembers said they will exchange evidence and allow Barber an opportunity to respond at that hearing. No removal action was taken at the April 8 meeting. Barber may present rebuttal material at the scheduled hearing.

The investigation drew public comment during the meeting’s public comment period, where several residents urged removal or censure and said the page’s posts had harmed town employees and public trust. The council asked staff to follow its rules for scheduling the hearing and to provide public access as required by council procedure.