McMinnville, TN: City workers can't write letters to newspapers, call stations

The Knox News Sentinel ^ | 9/5/02 | staff

[GailA]

Local despot flexing his powers.

[2banana]

There will be a midnight mayor's party rally, all employees are expected to attend...

[wingnuts'nbolts]

Where the he$$ are the Civil Libertarians when you need them? Looking after the afgani prisioners I guess.

[Gil4]

I'm guessing the guy's a 'Rat, because they would have led with "Republican City Administrator Herb Llewellyn..." if he wan't.

[Corin Stormhands]

That said, employees will not respond to media stories or editorials.

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.

[templar]

He said he doesn't think the policy infringes on employees' free speech rights.

Say what????

The intent of this policy is to prevent the employees free speech.

[maximus@Nashville]

Thank you for your response. You see the problem. McMinnville is a small town. Even if the employees had not identified themselves as city employees, everyone knows them as such. An employer has the right to instruct employees to direct all inquiries to supervisors, to take no action without approval regarding anything pertaining to their job. The story leaves much unsaid, leaving the reader to see this as a "freedom of speech" issue. You must ask yourself why would a newspaper do this?

[One_who_hopes_to_know]

You have analyzed the issue dead-on Corin

Well done!

[KarlInOhio]

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.

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.

[pyx]

He said he doesn't think the policy infringes on employees' free speech rights.

Hey Herby ! Bite me !

[Theodore R.]

Is this area of the state a strong enclave for Albert Arnold Gore, Jr.? Is it going Democrat in the fall?

[mhking]

I'm presuming the area code for this part of Tennessee is 615; If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone can correct me...

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

[maximus@Nashville]

Is this area of the state a strong enclave for Albert Arnold Gore, Jr.?

Actually that part of the state (as well as all of Tennessee's electoral votes) went to George W. Bush.

[Theodore R.]

But this year they may go Democrat. It doesn't look like Lamar! is doing much campaigning at all. At least I haven't heard of any of his "new ideas" LATELY.

[Ancient_Pistoll]

>Is this area of the state a strong enclave for Albert Arnold Gore, Jr.?<

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.

[Ancient_Pistoll]

>I'm presuming the area code for this part of Tennessee is 615; If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone can correct me...<

It's 931 in this area...his home number wasn't in the phone book.

[Ancient_Pistoll]

>Actually that part of the state (as well as all of Tennessee's electoral votes) went to George W. Bush.<

I work in McMinnville, in this area they say Republican like it's a cuss word.

[Old Professer]

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.

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.

[Harris]

Area code 931 I believe. I'm up in Cookeville. McMinnville is in the Eastern District of Tennessee for federal court. Someone needs a civil rights case to remind petty bureaucrats that Constitution is still law of the land.

[Corin Stormhands]

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.