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Subcommittee backs draft social media guidelines for elected and appointed officials
Summary
Franklin’s Communications Subcommittee recommended draft social media engagement guidelines—covering distinctions between personal and official accounts, moderation, and disclosure—sending the proposal to the full council after committee approval by voice vote.
The Franklin Communications Subcommittee reviewed draft social media engagement guidelines intended for elected and appointed officials and voted to recommend the draft to the full town council.
Liz, the town communications director, presented the draft and said it was intended to clarify distinctions among personal accounts, councilor/town official accounts and official town accounts, and to remind officials about open meeting, public records, moderation and ethics requirements. She said the document is guidance rather than a staff policy and that she linked staff social-media and moderation policies for reference.
Members raised scenarios the draft should address: whether a councilor can post about an issue from a campaign page (the committee was told a disclaimer may not eliminate public-record or ethics exposure), how appointed-official accounts are treated under public-records rules, and how to make clear when a speaker is posting as a private citizen versus as an official.
Steve Sherlock of Franklin Matters advised caution on perception: "people may not be able to distinguish which hat you're wearing at that time," and encouraged clear disclaimers and careful phrasing. Committee members agreed such guidance should be explicit and voted to forward the draft to the full council for consideration.
The subcommittee’s recommendation will be placed on a future full-council agenda for formal consideration and possible adoption.
