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Indian Trail council debates social media posts, staff morale; mayor criticizes 'Weasel Report'
Summary
Council members spent extended time criticizing repeated posts from a social media page (referred to as the 'Weasel Report' / formerly an 'elect' page tied to a council member), discussed staff morale and closed‑session minutes alleging a hostile work environment, and offered the absent council member an opportunity to respond.
At its February meeting, the Indian Trail Town Council devoted substantial discussion to a recurring issue: critical social media posts made on a page that council members said began as an “elect” page for a council member and later changed its name to the “Weasel Report.” Public commenter Bridal Dias and multiple council members raised complaints that the page posts inaccurate statements about council actions and town staff, bans critics, and has damaged staff morale.
Mayor Cohn read examples of posts that he said were false and said the posts had prompted public calls for staff firings based on statements staff had not made. He and other council members described repeated instances where social‑media content circulated inaccuracies about closed-session matters and about individual employees, which the mayor said contributed to low staff morale and caused some staff to consider leaving.
Councilmember Clarence (last name not specified) offered the absent council member—identified in discussion as the person associated with the page—the opportunity to submit a written rebuttal or appear on a future agenda so the council could hear his response. Several council members said they prefer to handle the matter in open session and urged the absent member be given the chance to speak at a subsequent meeting.
The town attorney advised in a prior closed session that complaints and emails from staff referenced a hostile working environment linked to the actions and social media of a council member; minutes read in open session noted staff reported feeling “uneasiness and uncertainty” and that several staff were looking for other employment. Council members said the closed-session discussion led to unanimous instructions for staff and counsel about handling litigation and personnel issues; some members expressed frustration that confidential information had been disclosed on social media before legal issues were concluded.
Public comment included a resident, Bridal Dias, who said the page began as an elected official’s page and accused its operators of blocking and banning residents and misrepresenting meetings. The council did not take formal disciplinary action at the meeting; instead, members discussed inviting the absent council member to respond by email or in person at a future meeting and asked staff and legal counsel to continue monitoring legal and personnel implications.
