Social media policies to be topic of Norris council workshop
Whether or not the city of Norris should start its own Facebook page and maybe use other social media platforms as well will be the topic of a special City Council workshop to be held at 6 p.m. Monday, April 29.
The goal is to set policies for the use of social media, including the suggestion by some that the city choose not to participate in platforms such as Facebook.
Councilman Chuck Nicholson brought the topic up during the council’s February meeting, and it was on the agenda for further discussion at the March council meeting, held Monday night (March 11).
Nicholson said that since last month’s meeting, he had sent an email to all the other council members and City Manager Adam Leford listing nearby cities that have their own Facebook pages to communicate information to residents.
Some on the council, including Councilwoman Loretta Painter, said they worry that keeping up with a Facebook page would keep city staff members from taking care of other, more necessary city business.
That’s in part because they would have to be able to respond to comments posted by Facebook users on the city’s posts. But it was also pointed out that the city could operate a Facebook page with no user commenting allowed.
Nicholson noted that Clinton and Oak Ridge city governments have their own Facebook pages. He said a Norris page could be used to convey city announcements.
The city’s Recreation Department and the Little Theater Board both have their own Facebook pages. But whoever created the Little Theater’s Facebook page is no longer connected to the city, and the current board has no access to the page because it does not know the password to log in.
Some in the audience during the discussion Monday night were clearly confused about the difference between Facebook pages and Facebook groups, and one woman suggested that the city make its Facebook page “private” to “keep scammers off.”
Only Facebook groups are set up to be public or private, and in those groups, which allow people to join as members, any member is allowed to make original posts,
But a Facebook page, such as Clinton and Oak Ridge have, does not have members, and only the page’s creator is allowed to make posts to the page. Facebook users may choose to “follow” such a page, which means that any new posts to the page would automatically show up on their own Facebook feeds.
Painter suggested that the council hold the workshop to discuss the social media policy, saying she wants to know more about the concept.
In other business Monday night, the council:
• Voted to allow the city manager to set up an agreement between the city and the Clinton Utilities Board to prevent CUB from establishing new electrical service to a property within Norris without first getting the city’s approval.
The goal is to make sure the facility getting the new service has met all city zoning rules and building codes before it would be allowed to have electric service.
Although it was not mentioned, this action was precipitated by the establishment of an illegal RV park and campground by Covenant Life Church – which had neither the proper zoning nor building permits from Norris, but still was able to get CUB to connect electric service to the facility without the consent of the city.
• Heard from the Public Works department that the city’s annual spring cleanup – involving special pickups by waste collection – would be held April 8-12. That will follow curbside brush pickup April 1-7.
• Learned that the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration would be held at 1:30 p.m. March 28 at Norris Elementary School.
