Commissioners urge clarity when speaking publicly and on social media

Toward the end of the meeting, a commissioner raised concerns about individual members posting on social media in ways that prompted calls to the planning office. The commissioner asked colleagues to make clear when they speak personally and not as representatives of the planning commission, saying it is embarrassing to receive calls about individual posts and urging members to label personal opinions as such.

The chair and other members agreed the commission's chair is the appropriate spokesperson for official positions and that individual commissioners may share personal views so long as they clearly identify them as personal and not the commission's. The exchange closed with an agreement to be explicit when speaking to reporters or posting publicly about commission matters.