The Columbus city council will discuss and have the option to approve a firearms ordinance, as well as a social media policy, during its meeting this afternoon at the municipal complex.
While a social media policy was drafted after two Columbus firemen and a police officer were suspended for “liking” a Facebook post a year ago, two councilmen told The Dispatch earlier this month that approving the policy “fell through the cracks.” The issue resurfaced late last month when The Dispatch reported Municipal Court Judge Nicole Clinkscales had made a reference to “‘tom’foolery,” appearing to insinuate that she viewed Columbus Municipal School District board member Aubra Turner, which Clinkscales identified by name, as an Uncle Tom. The Dispatch has since reported that Clinkscales, a part-time city employee in her role as a city judge, made reference to race at least four times in the last six months on her Facebook page and has endorsed candidates for public office. This could be in violation of the Mississippi Code of Judicial Conduct, according to at least one law expert.
The city’s proposed social media policy considers inappropriate postings to include “discriminatory remarks, harassment, and threats of violence or similar inappropriate or unlawful conduct,” adding that violators of the policy could face disciplinary action up to termination.
The document mentions that disputes between city employees are often resolved more quickly and efficiently face to face rather than through social media.
“If you decide to post complaints or criticism, you should avoid using statements, photographs, video or audio that reasonably could be viewed as malicious, obscene, threatening or intimidating, that disparage customers, co-employees, suppliers or that might constitute harassment or bullying,” the proposed policy states. “Examples of such conduct might include offensive posts meant to intentionally harm someone’s reputation or posts that could contribute to a hostile work environment on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion or any other status protected by law or municipal policy.”
The firearms ordinance is continued from a July meeting when councilman Kabir Karriem proposed the city adopt a no-firearms policy for all its buildings in the wake of state legislators passing a law allowing open carry. At that time, Hinds County Circuit Judge Winston Kidd had put the measure on hold just before the law was supposed to take effect July 1. He filed an injunction July 12, saying legislators needed to clarify the bill. The Mississippi Supreme Court unanimously upheld the open-carry law in August. Lowndes County supervisors approved a similar ban in July pending the outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision.
The proposed city ban would include parks, meetings, parades, political rallies, athletic events and municipal court.
The council is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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