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Resident presses council on social media blocking and a past garbage-contract dispute; attorney outlines mediation outcome
Summary
A resident asked why council members run social-media pages that block comments and questioned alleged mistakes in the town’s garbage contract; town leaders said the matter led to litigation and that the town followed attorney advice and mediated to a favorable — but undisclosed — settlement.
During the public-comment period, resident James Latrell criticized what he called a "weasel" social-media page he said has misrepresented town actions and asked why council members do not allow public comment on those pages. He also asked for clarification about the town’s handling of the municipal garbage contract and whether council members had "fumbled" it.
Mayor David Cone and town attorney Melanie Cox responded that the public record and an ongoing legal process constrained what officials could say when litigation was pending. Cox said the dispute centered on differing interpretations of a fuel-surcharge clause in the waste-contractor contract; the town went through discovery and mediation and reached a resolution that Cox described as being "a lot less than any of their demands," and said contract language was clarified for the remaining years.
Council members reiterated that when the town faces pending litigation, attorney guidance directs the board to limit direct communications that could affect the legal process. The mayor and several council members encouraged residents to raise issues in public comment at meetings or through formal channels so they can be addressed in the public record.
