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Residents accuse Council member McShi of online retaliation; plan to file formal complaint
Summary
Two residents told the Greenfield City Council on Feb. 17 that Council member McShi posted past arrest information about residents on social media and used law enforcement to intimidate critics; both speakers said they will file formal complaints and asked the council to consider remedies and higher conduct standards.
Two Greenfield residents used the public‑comment period at the Feb. 17 City Council meeting to accuse Council member McShi of retaliatory online conduct and to announce plans to file formal complaints with city officials.
Jim Van, who provided a handout to council members, said a councilmember’s Facebook post republished an arrest record from more than five years ago and described the post as potentially defamatory and an abuse of office. "Council member McSheen chose to post it anyways, potentially publishing a lielist statement about a resident," Van told the council, and said he intends to file a complaint through the city administrator the next day.
Chris Martinson also urged the council to act, saying multiple residents have been intimidated and retaliated against by council member McShi. Martinson said McShi told another resident he had contacted the county sheriff to report alleged threats; Martinson called that a lie and said his earlier remarks were not threatening. "If it were true that his family were ever in danger ... we would protect them. He lied publicly and apparently to the sheriff when he claimed my well‑intentioned words were a threat," Martinson said, and asked only for an apology and a city response.
Mayor Rail reminded the public that council does not take official action on items raised during public comment except to refer matters to staff or a commission for later review. Several speakers said they would provide documentation to city staff; the city administrator was asked to accept any formal complaints and advise the council on next steps.
The council did not take immediate formal action or announce an investigation during the meeting. The record shows multiple residents asked the city to clarify complaint procedures and consider whether council members' social‑media use raises municipal liability or conduct‑policy issues.
The matter remains a citizen complaint and, according to the public comments, is expected to be filed with the city administrator for review.
