I may or may not have access to my City of Easley email account (drainey@cityofeasely.com) because of my decision not to sign the Acceptable Use Agreement adopted at the December City Council meeting. Councilmember Justin Alexander and I voted against this agreement because we believe certain provisions raise concerns related to freedom of speech.
I fully support the City’s right—and responsibility—to establish policies governing the use of municipal equipment and resources. However, significant questions remain about the implementation of this policy. Specifically, council members were not informed at the time of our election about email retention periods or restrictions on the use of City-issued laptops, including limitations related to social media access.
I have served on City Council for two years, and these requirements were not communicated until recently. This lack of timely disclosure represents a serious administrative oversight. Clear expectations and policies should be communicated to elected officials at the outset of their service to ensure transparency, compliance, and mutual trust.