Jackson County Courthouse, North Entrance (photo by G. Morgan)
UPDATE - January 28, 2019 - Proposed Jackson County Employee Social Media Policy - As of today's date at 4:45 PM there is no approved Social Media Policy. One of the county commissioners, Mike Sisk, District 4, had discussions with employees at the Jackson County Public Works and circulated the policy shown below last week without approval from the full Jackson County Commission, and without legal review from the County Attorney. Other commissioners stated they were not aware of Mr. Sisk's actions until today when inquiries regarding the social media policy were discussed by this writer with the commissioners prior to today's Jackson County Commission meeting.
UPDATE - JANUARY 25, 2019 - PROPOSED JACKSON COUNTY EMPLOYEE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY - Is this a policy which has received legal review?
EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE OR CENSORSHIP OF POLITICAL SPEECH?
(Click on image for an expanded view.)
Employees have informed me they are in receipt of the County Social Media policy, this policy has not been approved by the Jackson county Commission. The Commission Chair stated the policy would be reviewed by the County Attorney. Geez, is this the final work product after review?
The proposed Social Media Policy for Jackson County
employees has areas of concern, particularly since it appears to violate both
the Alabama Constitution and rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court on what is and
is not allowed regarding social media postings by government employees.
This policy appears to violate the Alabama Constitution
and Supreme Court rulings on government employee speech, specifically political
speech of Jackson County Employees. The policy also attempts to allow only supporting
speech regarding a politician or political candidate, but would not allow
non-supporting speech. Re: Negative or Positive labels regarding political
speech of an employee.
The Chairman of the Jackson County Commission told me
explicitly that employees discussing elected officials or political candidates
on social media which did not agree with the candidates or elected officials
political positions would not be a part of a social media policy, but yet there
it is.
An employee may only support a politician's political
position but never make a social media posting which does not support the
politician or political candidate?
There is no mention of employee speech which serves a
public purpose or the public interest.
Alabama Constitution, Section 4, Freedom of Speech and
the Press.
"That no law shall ever be passed to curtail or
restrain the liberty of speech or of the press; and any person may speak,
write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the
abuse of that liberty."
American Bar Association weighs in, comprehensive
discussion on the issue: https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/events/labor_law/2017/11/conference/papers/Crasovan-Public_employee_Free_Speech.pdf
AGENDA
JACKSON COUNTY COMMISSION
WORK SESSION AGENDA
JANUARY 22, 2019
I. CALL TO ORDER, WELCOME
II. CALL OF ROLL TO ESTABLISH QUORUM, INVOCATION, AND PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE
III. APPROVE AGENDA OF MEETING – JANUARY 22, 2019
IV. AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS
V. PUBLIC COMMENT - Garry Morgan , Proposed Social Media Policy
VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS FOR COMMISSION
1) DHR BOARD APPOINTMENTS (2)
2) VOTING PRECINCTS - consolidation of smaller precincts inquiry
3) AUBURN UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL PROJECT - It was noted that the Auburn U. Consultation Project may cost $14-$15K;
Presentation by Human Resource Director Michelle Willis regarding the Auburn University Project (photo by G. Morgan).
VIDEO PART 1
Presentations by County Engineer (4-7) part 2 video
4) HMT 1 RECOMMENDATION (1)
5) TEMPORARY LABORER RECOMMENDATIONS (2)
6) FA RESURFACING PROJECT SELECTION
7) ROADWAY STRIPING LIST PROPOSAL
VII. REPORTS FROM STAFF:
VII. ADJOURN –
VIDEO PART 2
Issue discussion, Personnel Policy at end of video with Commission Chair and Human Resource Director. Confusion regarding objective performance standards system, unaware of modern system of Objective Performance Standards; many job descriptions not updated for 30 years.
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