Minutes - Council Work Session - 12/12/2023

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opinion and it does not represent the City of Ramsey. She asked how a Councilmember sharing their opinion on something would play into this if they shared that opinion on City letterhead. Administrative Services Director Lasher explained that this is pertaining to personal communications and the use of social media. She noted it would not be something that a City employee types up on City letterhead and would be on their own personal social media sites. Councilmember Specht asked if this section applies to the Council. Administrative Services Director Lasher shared that she knows that there is an administrative policy that they used years ago that states if a Councilmember is speaking on behalf of their opinion but not the majority that they need to make a statement similar to what is in the policy. She noted that she believes this does apply to the Council. Councilmember Specht shared that he has a Councilmember Facebook page, and he has a personal Facebook page. He stated that he responds to comments with his personal page. Councilmember Woestehoff added that disclaimers are always good for these sorts of gray areas. Councilmember Howell stated that she disagrees with this applying to Councilmembers as they represent a section of the residents. Mayor Kuzma stated that a disclaimer that an opinion is only held by one person and not the whole City would clear up confusion. Councilmember Specht asked if he were responding to many different posts and adding a disclaimer every time it does not make sense. Councilmember Musgrove shared that she thinks it is different for the Councilmembers as they are elected. She stated that the Governor does not always add a disclaimer that what he says are his opinions and he just speaks. City Attorney Knaak stated that with respect to the employees this kind of policy can be effective. He noted that a policy that someone deliberately violates could be the basis of discipline. He said it is not the same for Councilmembers. He explained that the bottom line is that he does not think that the Council can restrict one another in the manner in which they are allowed to speak. He stated they are the ones that regulate their own speech. He noted this is clearly a policy for employees; however, for the Council, they do not have to fetter themselves with any kind of restrictions while they may want to in a sense of having guidance. Councilmember Specht agreed that having a policy like this for the Council would be difficult. He noted that there should be a distinction when someone is stating an opinion and providing information. City Administrator Hagen explained that providing information when asked falls more under the media request policy. City Council Work Session / December 12, 2023 Page 8 of 10