(7/13) The Thurmont council conditionally adopted rules, at their July meeting, governing staff, and public use of social media, when it comes to official town websites.

Town internet communication methods are achieved primarily via the municipal website and Facebook pages, as well as the town's Main Street and Police Department pages.

The social media regulatory policy was approved unanimously by the board, pending a review by the town attorney, to determine if message board managers could suspend users, if they abuse usage with improper or obscene postings.

Chief Administrative Officer James Humerick stated that the policy sets forth guidelines for the town's use of social media sites as a means of conveying the town's information to the public. The intended purpose behind the use of the town's social media sites is to disseminate information from the town about the town to the public "in a civil manner."

Humerick said the policy would be in addition to, and compliment, any existing or future town policies regarding the use of technology, computers, smartphone, email, and the internet.

The administrative officer said the regulations were created with preserving free speech, while establishing a means of limiting offensive speech. "Nothing in this policy shall be applied to prohibit or infringe upon any communication, speech, or expression that is protected or privileged under law," he said.

The guidelines are not only for town staff, who are posting information, but also for people who are commenting or posting information on town websites, further establishing "what is allowed and what's not allowed, and certainly keeping in mind, everyone's Constitutional rights."

The town provides guidelines for employee social media use in the municipal employee manual, but nothing has previously existed governing comparable public conduct.

Mayor John Kinnaird said, "We don't want to have hateful comments or disrespectful comments, or vulgar comments... because we have so many young people that read Facebook ...I know a lot of people that follow the town Facebook page, want to make sure there's nothing offensive on there."

The board also discussed whether or not those who are abusing the websites could be suspended or blocked from further access. Kinnaird said, "In today's age, you have to stay ahead of things like this."

The board elected to defer developing rules for suspension or blocking to the town attorney, if the attorney determines that the board can have such an ability.

The adopted regulations are not necessarily "written in stone," but can be changed, altered, or expanded upon, as the town sees fit.