LETTER: Elected officials and social media

Letter to the Editor:

I would like to address the article about the discussion at the Town of Webb Town Board work session/meeting on Monday, 11/2/15, regarding Bill Brooker’s post on Facebook.

The post read, “…I was informed from quite a reliable source (a retired state trooper) that the study that was done for our Police Department and cost over 400K could have been done by the NY State Police for next to nothing! It is a service they provide.”

The gathering of information, and distribution to the public, when done by a Town Board member should be done accurately. I realize Bill isn’t a member of the current board. My concern is for anyone who uses social media as a tool when elected.

The figure of $400,000 was a best guess estimate of all costs, and heard from community members and not an official source. Bill was interviewed by Jay Lawson and given the chance to explain that. The post did not.

My intent is not to single out one person, or form the “Brooker Policy”, but to make sure that if this venue of social media communication becomes used by the Town Board it needs to convey accurate information to the public, not pot-stirring rhetoric.

I didn’t use the term “ill-advised utterances”, but thanks, Jay.

I will be sure to use it in the future!

I do believe that inaccuracies or untruths that would be perceived as a statement from the Town Board can do damage to the Board or the Town as a whole.

Respectfully,

Barbara GreenOld Forge

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