Council debates ‘Weasel Report’ posts; mayor and staff cite staff morale, call for public clarity

Indian Trail — Several residents spoke during public comment about town social-media posts, and council members spent substantial time discussing a recurring local page called the “Weasel Report” (which council members said had previously been an “Elect Todd Barber” page). The council said the page posts false or misleading claims about officials and staff, and some members tied the posts to declining staff morale and staff departures.

Resident Bridal Dias told the council she was “ashamed” the page had become a venue for name-calling and said it began as an elected-official page that was later renamed and restricted so some residents are blocked from commenting. Michael Evola, a new resident who said he serves on the North Carolina Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Statewide Independent Living Council, introduced himself and offered to be a local resource for residents with disabilities; his remarks were separate from the social-media discussion.

Mayor David Cone and multiple council members addressed the social-media controversy at length. The mayor read a series of posts he characterized as false and inflammatory and said the posts have misrepresented staff actions and courtroom or contract details. “Why does he want to tear the town down? Why does he want to make this town look bad?” Cone asked, and he encouraged residents to share accurate information from the town rather than rely on the page.

Council members also described outcomes from a prior closed session where the town attorney had reported staff complaints alleging a hostile work environment, low morale and some staff actively seeking other employment. The attorney’s closed-session minutes read into the record — and cited during discussion — stated staff had raised concerns about council member communications and conduct. Several council members said those concerns were part of the reason the item required attention in open session.

Council member Clarence suggested the council offer the page’s operator an opportunity to respond — by email or at a future meeting — and asked whether a special meeting should be scheduled so the person could rebut specific allegations while present. Other council members urged stopping the cycle of repeated social-media complaints during council time, arguing that recurring discussion gives greater visibility to contentious posts.

No disciplinary action, formal censure or binding policy change was adopted at the meeting. Council members agreed to invite the person responsible for the page to respond or to place the matter on a future agenda if a formal response is requested. Several council members urged residents to seek the town’s official statements and pointed to the council chamber as the correct venue to raise factual disputes.

Quotes (selected):

Resident Bridal Dias: “I’m ashamed that this is going on in my town.”

Mayor David Cone: “Why does he want to tear the town down? Why does he want to make this town look bad?”

Council member Clarence: “I would like to extend opportunity to him to have a rebuttal…whether it’s through an email to the council, or maybe…a special meeting.”

The council’s discussion included repeated references to past social-media posts alleging wrongdoing by staff and to posts about the recently settled Waste Connections dispute; several members said partial or premature disclosures on social media risked complicating legal or negotiation positions. The mayor and other members asked staff to monitor public reaction and report back. The council did not vote on any sanction or on changes to its public-comment rules at this meeting.