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| It's Time!!!! (for Escambia County to revise and update the decade-old, obsolete social-media policy!) |
As Bruce Buffer likes to say before the UFC main event begins...........--------------It's Time!
The current social media policy that is applicable to commissioners in Escambia County is a decade old.
Lots of things have occurred over the last ten years. Much of this policy is obsolete and in desperate need of a re-write.
It's time for us to review and revise our current Commissioners' Social Media Policy which apparently applies to us--but that is not followed--by any of us. (more on this below....)
So this item is on this week's COW Thursday and I will be bringing some updated language for consideration by my peers on the BCC.
We'll see how the discussion shakes out....
Because after last week's discussion on a proposed non-interference ordinance meandered into discussions about some commissioners not adhering, strictly, to the most recent policy, I dusted it off and re-read it. Here it is, again.
And lo and behold--I know section B. (2) is not being followed by anyone. We all have our cell phones on the dais. from B. (2) "Commissioners shall not use cell phones, PDAs, Blackberrys, laptops, netbooks, or similar devices, regardless of ownership of the device, during any County Commission meeting, including workshops.."
Also--B. (4) is also not being followed. (The county recently purchased software because they know, like I know, that text message use is ubiquitous and it is very helpful to commissioners--ALL OF WHOM USE TEXT MESSAGES so far as I have been told) Heck--we often receive text blasts to ALL COMMISSIONERS from county staff----because it is an effective, efficient way to reach us all quickly with rapidly-unfolding information. Of course we have to archive these official business text messages, and I believe we all do. ( I know for sure I do). Nevertheless--the fact remains that the current policy is not being followed..... from B. (4) "Commissioners shall not use text messaging, instant messaging or similar types of instantaneous communications to conduct county business on any device capable of such methods of communication, regardless of ownership of the device."
B. (5) is problematic for multiple reasons, (most notably because it violates the First Amendment of the Constitution) but I'm actually okay with most of it ----and I will bring a revision that I believe
will garner three votes but that also honors our free speech rights.
I have no problem with section C.--once we get section B. corrected and revised.
And section D. has NOT happened, unfortunately,----- thus the need to bring it this Thursday.
So we have to be careful not to unfairly stigmatize one or two board members for not following one section of a policy--when 4 or 5 members are not following two or more sections of the existing policy.
As someone intelligent once said recently--"we have to lead from the top!" Yes, that's correct.
But someone else also stated recently--"we can't pick and choose which portions of 'rules' we follow."
...and that is correct also.
10 comments:
Good Job, I also saw it on the upcoming agenda.
This most definitely needs to be updated. Good catch Mr Burgosh.
What about public release of confidential information. How can one have a federal security clearance supposedly and release internal investigation to the media?
Loose lips sink ships. During this meeting Thursday I hope to see this question both asked and answered as to whether Underhill released Elders letter to Nylander on April 8. You have to ask him a yes or no or you will get back useless quotes or defection or word salad. Nylander tweeted on April 9 that Douglas Underhill told him Weaver had resigned. That was prior to the meeting April 11 before the full board. He also jumped in front of WEAR camera after that. Does the full board approve?
We look forward to hearing from Janice Kilgore on Thursday.
Thank you for your attention to this. Your leadership is appreciated.
One of your colleagues issued a public statement that he refuses to accept the authority of the board regarding social media. We have the screenshot.
Same one who refused to accept the authority of the board to support a county leader who had a no confidence vote from the union, yet took it upon his own authority to berate him, fire him most likely, and send the info to the press, even though he did not have the authority. What a brick.
He has angered a hoard. He will never recover.
It’s pretty clear that Commissioner Secret Agent is using personal accounts to communicate with local media outlets.
For example, WEARTV ran a story on April 30 about the IA investigation. The memo from Coughlin was forwarded over from his official account. But the e-mails the commissioner fed to them a short while later seem to have come from an account that was not the county’s.
It could be that the commissioner was in such a hurry to get ahead of that story he might have pulled a hamstring.
Most private companies employing a lot of people with clearances have security officials who are responsible for reporting violations like this one to the DoD. Doesn’t the county have someone like that, and if so, who is it?
One problem with social media is Underhill on ECW. If the citizens were left to have their own, even playing field and not having that site co opted with political propaganda instilled by him plus The banning and blocking dissension toward him and the owner encourages group think has created a bad environment in Escambia government.
The discourse in Escambia would not be so corrupt, unbalanced and poisoned if he would delete his membership there.
Instead of acting with honor and integrity and respect, he manipulates social media in Escambia at all costs. He uses Next Door and other sites. He uses his warfare training in propaganda and social media.
Some of the contempt in the county is a direct reaction to that. He is a bully to go into that site, into a place, where the other commissioners can not comment nor defend themselves and lie about them, call them names and complain about votes and board action.
He metaphorically comes off the dais and the words that were on the agenda are made null and void -- that proper conduct is required in Escambia County.
If you each have your own page, open to sunshine, not deleting comments that may be a better way of conducting the people's business.
Also when public is speaking instead of texting, the commissioners should be listening to the public and to each other. It shows up in the videos that often some are not.
It looks like Underhill has a command center set up with devices, and how does the public know if you are not talking to each other or he is telling his person to NOT type at certain times on facebook. It's rude and unfair.
Please launch an IA investigation through the appropriate channels within the county to determine who is and has been passing confidential internal affairs information to the media and then to social media.
You will then have the main one causing the problems and the resignations of staff.
That individual should be dealt with appropriately.
D5 used comments collected via Northescambia from both facebook and anonymous comments and entered them into the record for the CSX discussion. D5 used them in the agenda back up and worked toward solutions.
I suggest you do the same with these.
The breach is unconscionable. Look at the chaos it has caused. IT (Information technology) should be able to identify the source and document what is known.
I believe the citizens, staff, and media look forward to this discussion at the COW May 9, 2019
Looks like the county finally put a lid on making statements to media. The member of the board tripping all over himself to try to get ahead of this should be punished. Releasing the old videos making people question their care is disgusting.
The accusation on social media and PNJ about Kilgore as being a GOB is absurd. Even Elder seemed relieved as she stated about Mrs Kilgore showing up "Where have you been" the social rumour mill Gladys Kravitz and crew look silly.
Your timing on this is perfect. I realize you are bringing up the social media policy now because no one is following it and sets a bad example for leadership. I also know you straightened out the LETF to comport to statutes during the sheriff budget which needed to be done. kudos You brought up the non interference ordinance because Underhill is abusing staff and interfering.
Edler is happy that Kilgore is coming in!!!
The nebulous claims of GOBS with Mrs Kilgore coming in ASININE. One messaging that you are doing otherwise is a LIAR. You publicly said people can come to you. "criticize privately and reward publicly". There are some azz backward messages being put out on social media that are wrong.
Excellent timing commissioner.
The discussion needs to be had. Hope your fellow board members will join in robustly, as they say, and call a spade a spade.
Order an IA into the one sending confidential info to the press, lets get to it.
Talk about the county policy of going through a PIO and not discussing and disclosing personnel and HR issues publicly.
The sunshine law is one thing but county government and staff is another.
Some don't seem to understand that OBVIOUSLY.
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