TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Should text messages be treated the same as emails when it comes to public records?
That's the question the Tallahassee City Commission will try to answer at its next meeting. This comes after city manager Rick Fernandez deleted texts from his city-issued phone regarding a request for football tickets from a lobbyist.
This would archive texts from city-issued devices as part of public record, just like the city does with e-mails.
We're talking about more than 900 phones issued to city staff and the goal here is to improve transparency and accountability.
The city treasurer-clerk said it's time the city regulated what is becoming a more common way for staff to communicate. He also referenced the city's efforts to be more transparent, in light of the ongoing FBI investigations.
If the commission approves the policy, it would go into effect Jan. 1. City staff recommend it applies to elected and appointed officials, permanent and temporary employees, advisory board members, and volunteers.
"It also would allow us in our policy to tell and remind employees that they shouldn't be using personal devices to conduct city business, because city business does become a public record," said Jim Cooke, the Tallahassee city treasurer-clerk. "And if that happens inadvertently -- either for one reason or another, including maybe something they received that they didn't initiate -- we would want them to forward that or provide that in some fashion, so that it can be captured."
To set up archiving would cost the city a bit more, so, staff is asking the commission to approve up to $98,000 for it at its next meeting on Dec. 6.
