Henderson City Council unanimously adopts social media policy for elected officials

The Henderson City Council voted unanimously on July 17 to adopt Resolution 24-41, establishing a formal policy governing elected officials’ use of personal and professional social media platforms. Councilmember Michael Venable moved the measure and Councilmember Tami Walker seconded; the council approved the resolution unanimously.

City Manager Edward T. Blackmon told the council the city already had a general Code of Conduct but lacked a specific social media policy for elected officials. "He recommended a policy be adopted for elected officials which provides professional and personal standards of conduct for social media platforms," the minutes state, noting the document also includes guidelines and best practices for responsible use.

A clerk's note in the minutes corrected reference numbers used at the meeting, updating the administrative file to CAF 24-59 and the measure to Resolution 24-41. The record lists Mayor Melissa Elliott and seven councilmembers as present and notes Councilmembers Sam Seifert and Sara M. Coffey as absent.

Mayor Melissa Elliott remarked that "social media platforms are sometimes hacked" before adjourning the emergency meeting, which began at 2:58 p.m. and ended at 3:08 p.m. The minutes further state that City Clerk Tracey Kimbrell was not present at the meeting and later prepared the minutes from the video recording and notes provided by Assistant City Manager and Deputy Clerk Paylor Spruill.

The council’s action adopts the policy as described in Resolution 24-41; the minutes reference the resolution book for the final document. No amendments or conditions to the policy were recorded in the minutes, and no formal follow-up tasks or reporting requirements were specified.