New guidelines address social media conduct and cell phone use during meetings
To promote respectful engagement and transparency, the Reading Select Board voted 4–1 with Karen Herrick dissenting, to adopt amendments on social media conduct to its communication policy. The board also unanimously added a new section on cell phone use during meetings, passing 5–0.
The amendments, introduced by Select Board Co-Chair Chris Haley, were designed to clarify expectations around board members’ behavior online and during public meetings. Haley noted that the updates were not intended to restrict anyone’s rights but to establish a shared understanding of professional conduct.
Social Media Policy Sparks Debate
The proposed social media policy generated extensive discussion among board members. The policy encourages board members to avoid blocking constituents or restricting access to public campaign pages, and to refrain from engaging in online behavior that could be perceived as silencing dissenting opinions.
Board member Carlo Bacci supported the policy, noting that it could have been summarized in a single sentence:
Don’t block people you disagree with.”
Bacci also highlighted recent incidents where a colleague’s campaign page was used to post and then delete controversial content, then restricted commenting, calling for consistency and fairness in online engagement.
Board member Karen Herrick raised broader concerns about the potential for open meeting law violations stemming from online interactions, emphasizing the need for caution and suggesting a more comprehensive review of board policies in the future.
Herrick expressed concern about the policy’s scope, particularly its reference to seeking guidance from town counsel on social media matters. She argued that town counsel should not be used for personal social media issues and suggested removing that clause before abruptly walking out of the meeting for a brief period. The board ultimately agreed to strike the final sentence referencing town counsel from the policy.
Cell Phone Use Policy Passes Unanimously
The cell phone use amendment passed with unanimous support. It encourages board members to minimize distractions during meetings and to excuse themselves if they need to take a call or step away. Haley clarified that the policy was not meant to prohibit cell phone use entirely, acknowledging that emergencies and note-taking are valid reasons for using devices during meetings.
Board member Karen Herrick emphasized that she uses her phone to take notes and hoped the policy would not lead to unwarranted accusations. She also called for adherence to the board’s broader code of conduct.
Public Comment Highlights Tensions
During public comment, resident Angela Binda criticized Haley for using his phone to take a picture during the 7:30pm portion of the meeting, questioning whether the behavior aligned with the proposed policy. Haley responded that he had recused himself from the board discussion during the Tax Preview and was acting as a private citizen. During the agenda topic in question, Haley spoke during that segment’s public comment period as a resident, not as a board member as referenced in our tax article from yesterday.
Looking Ahead
Co-Chair Melissa Murphy suggested that the board revisit its full set of policies during an upcoming retreat, allowing for a more thorough review and potential updates to the code of conduct and other governance documents.
The board’s decision to adopt the amended communication policies marks a step toward formalizing expectations for respectful and transparent behavior, both in person and online. As social media continues to play a significant role in local politics, the board acknowledged the need for ongoing dialogue and adaptation.
The full meeting can be seen below with the timestamp to the Social Media Discussion (1hr17min) applied:
