Council directs staff to post mayor’s statement addressing misleading social posts after debate

Council debated whether the town should use its social media channels to publish a mayoral statement correcting a local Facebook account the mayor described as repeatedly publishing inaccurate and divisive information about council members. The mayor presented a draft statement that summarized accomplishments and challenged the account’s claims about roles and compensation, and he asked for council permission to post the statement on the town’s Facebook page.

The town attorney advised that any motion should specify the misleading or inaccurate information to be corrected, consistent with the town’s social‑media policy. Council members expressed differing views on whether the town should intervene on behalf of an individual council member. One council member said it was inappropriate for the town to defend a single council member on the town’s page; another moved to direct staff to post the mayor’s statement addressing the comments. The motion passed 3–1.

Why it matters: the vote reflects a council decision to use town communication channels to address what the mayor described as persistent misinformation. Council members discussed policy boundaries and the attorney noted the social‑media policy’s requirement that a motion identify the inaccuracies to be corrected if the town posts a statement.

What’s next: staff will post the mayor’s statement on the town Facebook page per the council motion and consistent with town policy and the advice of the town attorney.