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Commission adopts website and social media policy after debate over employee speech protections
Summary
The Board approved a website/social media policy after members amended the draft to remove an opening paragraph and narrow references to ‘official county website’ following objections that the original language might infringe employees’ First Amendment rights.
The Carter County Board of Commissioners adopted an amended website and social media policy after debate over how the draft could affect employee speech.
Commissioner Robert Acuff said he feared the policy might infringe on employees’ First Amendment rights, citing the draft’s opening clause: “Carter County generally does not seek to know about or in any way control employee activities outside of work unless those activities negatively affect Carter County.” Attorney Hardin told the Board the first paragraph could be removed and that the phrase “any website” could be narrowed to “official county website.”
Commissioner Kelly Collins asked what steps would be used for discipline. Attorney Hardin said the mayor would be responsible for the official county web page and that individual officeholders would be responsible for their own sites and would handle infractions.
Following amendment to remove the contested paragraph and to limit the policy to the official county website, the Board approved Resolution No. 797 and the revised policy on a roll-call vote (17 yes, 5 no). Commissioner Robert Acuff remained on record as opposed, citing civil-liberties concerns.
The policy’s passage means the county will adopt a county-level standard for official web pages; the Board agreed that internal disciplinary procedures would be handled by officeholders per the amended policy language.
