Openness is best town policy
Milton Town Council is considering an ordinance designed to regulate use of town-owned technology and limit what can be posted on the town’s website or town-hosted social media sites.
Milton is well advised to update ordinances governing what can be posted on town sites and who is responsible for making such posts. Yet the proposed ordinance also establishes a new media communications policy naming the town manager as official spokesperson and requiring the town manager’s permission before other employees can make statements or give interviews to the press.
The ordinance allows the police chief to speak to the press about specific police investigations, and the chief is also permitted to speak during emergencies “when the town manager is unavailable to respond to such requests or when the town manager has granted prior authority” to the chief.
Before his election, Mayor Cliff Newlands was among many citizens who were concerned about how difficult it was to obtain clear answers about town bookkeeping. He said, “The town acts like it’s none of our business… they don’t want us asking questions.”
He promised at the time that if elected, “What I’d like to to do is have a more open government.”
Yet now in office, it appears Newlands and other members of council are more concerned about controlling information than they are about ensuring government is open and frank, with nothing to hide.
Town employees should discuss media inquiries with their superiors and relay the kinds of questions that are being asked to the town manager. But it should be noted that neither Lewes nor Rehoboth Beach restrict employees from answering a reporter’s questions.
Why would Milton need such a policy?
Not all news is good news, no matter who releases the information. Restricting the employees’ ability to discuss problems and bring them to light is a step back from the openness and transparency the mayor has previously supported.
Instead of restricting employees, Milton should encourage town employees to speak honestly and openly – with their superiors, with the press and with the citizens of Milton.
