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<br />an error in Twitter, the posting might include something designating the corrections, such as <br />."Fixed link" or "Fact correction" before the corrected information. <br /> <br />The web contains a permanent record of mistakes, so attempting to disguise a mistake likely <br />will make things worse. <br /> <br />To help prevent errors, elected officials should not post official information about the city. <br />Potential errors could create city issues ranging from minor to significant, and some may create <br />unforeseen liability issues. <br /> <br />An example discussed earlier in this document applies here. Posting the wrong opening date <br />for enrollment in a parks and recreation program likely will create confusion, inconvenience <br />and even frustration among residents who try to enroll their kids in a program too early and. <br />essentially end up wasting their time, or who find a program full because they tried to enroll <br />their kids too late for a program. It's unlikely this type of mistake would create city liability. <br />But posting incorrect information about a new city ordinance related to land use zoning stands <br />a greater chance of creating liability if someone acts based upon that incorrect information, and <br />later is penalized for the action they took based upon the incorrect information officially posted <br />by the city. <br /> <br />If an elected official makes an error related to official city business, she should contact the top <br />appointed official to divulge the error and consult on the best manner in which to communicate <br />the correct information. Depending upon the type of error, the city may choose to correct the <br />information in a range of official city communication vehicles such as the city newsletter, <br />website, during a council meeting and, potentially even with the local media to ensure the <br />corrected information is broadcast as widely as possible. <br /> <br />Elected officials also should recognize that using personal technology to communicate on <br />official city business could become inconvenient if a request for data is made on a particular <br />topic, and that elected official has commented through his own equipment, including <br />computers and phones. The official could be in a situation where his hard drive is subpoenaed <br />during an investigation of a claim or lawsuit against the city. Such a situation would be <br />inconvenient at best. Elected officials should consider maintaining a separate file on their <br />personal technology for maintaining city-related communications so they can easily produce <br />any requested public information on their personal technology. <br /> <br />. Add value. There may be times when elected officials use social media to promote a position <br />on a city issue such as a controversial ordinance being considered, land use discussion, gather <br />feedback from constituents or to campaign. <br /> <br />When this occurs, elected officials should be encouraged to add value to the conversation by <br />staying focused on the issue. They should not post comments that amount to name-calling or <br />ridiculing of colleagues, staff or residents. <br /> <br />While it's common and even natural to seek to respond to attacks on their viewpoints or <br />personality, elected officials should be encouraged to avoid conversations that clearly add no <br />value to discussion of city issues. <br /> <br />Page 11 of12 <br />