MONROE - Mayor Ron Marsh says he hasn't put a gag order against city employees talking to the media. But he said the city has begun enforcing a policy that restricts the flow of information from City Hall.
City Administrator Mark Vahlsing on Thursday told a Times reporter that requests for any information concerning city government should be directed to him, as part of the city's official "procedure to follow." He later told the Times that any "substantial release" needs to go through him.
He said reporters could "go to anyone you want," but department heads "will check with me, they're supposed to check with me."
"In the past, I've allowed them to go ahead," Vahlsing said.
Vahlsing said the mayor would decide who's authorized to answer questions.
On Wednesday, Vahlsing, in an e-mail sent to all departments and copied to Marsh, said "if you receive any calls, or other contact from the media requesting any information, please direct those requests to me." Vahlsing said the directive did not apply to the Police and Fire departments.
Mayor Marsh said he did not look at the e-mail about media requests before it was sent because he "didn't have to," but said he had told Vahlsing to send one.
Monroe City Clerk Carol Stamm provided the Times with a copy of the e-mail Friday in response to a Freedom of Information request from the paper, which Vahlsing asked for prior to the release.
Marsh said he decided "a few weeks ago" to reinforce the city's media policy, which he said was implemented about a year ago. He said it was not an order to employees to not talk to the media.
The only "Media Policy" the city was able to provide the Times this week was written in 2001 and has not been updated. The policy instructs department heads and supervisors to inform the "Director of General Government" of any "substantial non-routine information released to the media and/or general public." It also says that "all questions from the media or general public concerning the status of ... adverse personnel actions shall be referred to the Director of General Government."
The Director of General Government position no longer exists in the City of Monroe. Vahlsing said the procedure now is part of his job as city administrator, a position created in 2006.
Marsh said city government had not been adhering to the rules, but now will be. He would not comment on the timing of his decision to reinforce the policy around the time of an April 23 closed session of the Monroe City Council to "discuss possible violations of city policies by employees."
Vahlsing said the decision to reinforce the policy is not related to that matter.
Marsh also would not comment when asked if he was worried information released by city employees to the press would damage anyone implemented in the subject of the closed-door session.
City Administrator Mark Vahlsing on Thursday told a Times reporter that requests for any information concerning city government should be directed to him, as part of the city's official "procedure to follow." He later told the Times that any "substantial release" needs to go through him.
He said reporters could "go to anyone you want," but department heads "will check with me, they're supposed to check with me."
"In the past, I've allowed them to go ahead," Vahlsing said.
Vahlsing said the mayor would decide who's authorized to answer questions.
On Wednesday, Vahlsing, in an e-mail sent to all departments and copied to Marsh, said "if you receive any calls, or other contact from the media requesting any information, please direct those requests to me." Vahlsing said the directive did not apply to the Police and Fire departments.
Mayor Marsh said he did not look at the e-mail about media requests before it was sent because he "didn't have to," but said he had told Vahlsing to send one.
Monroe City Clerk Carol Stamm provided the Times with a copy of the e-mail Friday in response to a Freedom of Information request from the paper, which Vahlsing asked for prior to the release.
Marsh said he decided "a few weeks ago" to reinforce the city's media policy, which he said was implemented about a year ago. He said it was not an order to employees to not talk to the media.
The only "Media Policy" the city was able to provide the Times this week was written in 2001 and has not been updated. The policy instructs department heads and supervisors to inform the "Director of General Government" of any "substantial non-routine information released to the media and/or general public." It also says that "all questions from the media or general public concerning the status of ... adverse personnel actions shall be referred to the Director of General Government."
The Director of General Government position no longer exists in the City of Monroe. Vahlsing said the procedure now is part of his job as city administrator, a position created in 2006.
Marsh said city government had not been adhering to the rules, but now will be. He would not comment on the timing of his decision to reinforce the policy around the time of an April 23 closed session of the Monroe City Council to "discuss possible violations of city policies by employees."
Vahlsing said the decision to reinforce the policy is not related to that matter.
Marsh also would not comment when asked if he was worried information released by city employees to the press would damage anyone implemented in the subject of the closed-door session.