Ranlo council backs resolution to align device/network policy with state law and to keep livestream on during closed sessions

At the Jan. 9 Ranlo Town Council meeting, staff presented a resolution the packet described as complying with a recently cited state session law (cited in the meeting as 'session law 2024-36') and portions of North Carolina law. The draft resolution would prohibit certain viewing or saving of specified material on government devices and networks, require incident reporting when material is found on town devices, and include an explicit law-enforcement exception.

Staff said the change is intended to mirror the new state requirement and to make local policy consistent with state law. A council member moved to adopt the resolution and another seconded; council then approved the motion by voice vote during the meeting (no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript). The council also accepted staff's proposed closed-session logistics: rather than turning off the Facebook Live stream and removing the public from the room, the council will vote to move to closed session in an adjacent training room while keeping the chamber live stream running so viewers can see subsequent actions announced on the broadcast.

In presenting the resolution staff noted the policy requires reporting of incidents where specified material is found on government devices and that law enforcement would be excepted from parts of the prohibition. Council members asked clarifying questions about whether the town already enforces related prohibitions; staff said the resolution essentially formalizes compliance with the state measure and restates existing local restrictions.

The motion passed by voice vote; the meeting record does not show a roll-call or detailed vote tally. Staff said they will implement the change in local policy language to align with the state requirement and proceed with the logistics for keeping a single livestream active while the board conducts closed session in a separate room.