Posted on 09/05/2002 6:03:08 AM PDT by GailA
City workers can't write letters to newspapers, call stations
September 4, 2002
McMINNVILLE, Tenn.- The city administrator has told public employees they can't write a letter to the editor or call radio stations without his permission.
City Administrator Herb Llewellyn informed workers of the policy in an Aug. 27 memo.
The memo, which was obtained by The Southern Standard newspaper, was written after two McMinnville employees wrote letters responding to a sports column that criticized food at the city ball fields.
"There are two rules in life that you all should know and follow: do not pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel and today's newspaper can be found tomorrow in the trash can," the memo says.
"That said, employees will not respond to media stories or editorials. You will not write letters to the editor or telephone radio stations without my approval."
Llewellyn said it is the mayor's role to be spokesman for the city and employees who violate the new policy face disciplinary action.
He said he doesn't think the policy infringes on employees' free speech rights.
Let's not be too hasty here folks.
The way I read this, the initial complaints were someone complaining about a city run activity (food at the ball fields.) In other words, a complaint about city business.
Seems like the administrator is just saying "you are not the spokesperson for the city." I would not necessarily expect Coca-Cola to applaud a mid-level secretary defending the company's hiring practices.
It's about PR. It's about singing of the same page. It's standard practice.
HAVING SAID THAT: I have no problem with the Administrator saying "you will not address the media regarding issues pertaining to city business." But he can't stop them from commenting on other issues.
Say what????
The intent of this policy is to prevent the employees free speech.
Well done!
Or even "You will not present youself as a city spokesman. You are simply 'John Smith, concerned citizen' not 'John Smith, McMinnville city employee'." This might be tricky with higher level, well known employees. It shouldn't matter for the rank and file.
City of McMinnville
141 Hickory Ct.
P. O. Box 413
McMinnville, TN 37111
Contact: Mr. Jim W. Brock
Phone: 473-1204/815-8669
Fax: 473-6231
E-Mail: mcmnnvllcty@blomand.net
jbrock1@blomand.net
Website:
Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday
Government
Actually that part of the state (as well as all of Tennessee's electoral votes) went to George W. Bush.
Gore won Warren (where McMinnville is located) and 5 of the 6 surrounding counties. President Bush won the 6th by 47 votes.
>Is it going Democrat in the fall?<
Probably.
It's 931 in this area...his home number wasn't in the phone book.
I work in McMinnville, in this area they say Republican like it's a cuss word.
Lately I feel like I have stepped into "The Twilight Zone;" what happened to the time-honored MYOB?
An employee writing to the paper using his own name and title or any indication of his employment would still be covered under this order if the article is correct.
FR sure ain't my father's Oldsmobile no more.
Maybe 'cause you never really learned to drive it.
This isn't a "free speech" issue. It's a job responsibility issue. There are things I won't discuss even "anonymously" on FR because they deal directly with my job. And yeah, I'm under that type of restriction too. I know that I have no business airing my employer's business in the public arena unless that's part of my job description.
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