Sheboygan council keeps proposed social media policy on consent agenda after public concerns

At its fourth regular meeting, the Sheboygan Common Council heard public comment and debated whether to remove a proposed social media policy from the consent agenda; a motion to pull the policy for further committee review failed on a 3–6 roll-call vote, and the consent agenda was approved thereafter.

Peter Mayer, a resident who identified himself and his address to the clerk, urged the council to send the policy back to committee. Mayer read language from the draft — citing sections 11(d), 6, 7(a), 7(i) and 8(a) — and said the text could allow the city to “own and forever” control personal social media accounts of alders and committee members when those accounts are used in the course of duties. “By the language used in the policy, this proposed social media policy as it applies to city officials is Orwellian,” Mayer said, and he asked the council to “read the words yourself” and return the draft for clearer drafting.

City Attorney Majeris responded to council questions about scope and public-records obligations. “Your assessment is correct,” Majeris said. He explained the policy is “intended to guide those individuals who may have an opportunity or a platform to be seen as speaking on the city's behalf or on behalf of a department or division,” and that an account used to communicate in an official capacity may generate records subject to retention and disclosure. Majeris also told the council that ordinary private posts on a personal account do not automatically convert the account into a municipal account.

Resident Mike Burnett spoke after Mayer and said he supports having some guidelines while acknowledging implementation challenges. “I would throw myself on a sword for free speech,” Burnett said, but argued the council needs rules to manage official communications and records.

Alder Kelly moved to remove the social media policy from the consent agenda and refer it back to committee for clarifying edits; Alder Perella seconded the motion. On the roll-call vote to remove the item, the clerk recorded three ayes and six nays and the motion failed. The council then proceeded to vote on the consent agenda, which passed by roll call with nine ayes.

What happens next: the social media policy remains on the consent agenda as presented; council members urged clearer language about when an account is treated as municipal and about records retention. The council did not take additional amendments at the meeting.

Quotes in this article are drawn directly from the meeting transcript and are attributed to speakers who self-identified or were explicitly introduced in the transcript.