The Board of Selectmen is considering creating a task force to explore how to better protect those seeking office and those who serve on boards and commissions from harassment and threats.
The call for a task force comes after Vivian Hardison, Board of Ethics co-chair, sought criminal charges against Raymond Martin, former Planning and Zoning Commission chairman, after he posted her personal information on Facebook. One of the images of a document posted online included a thin strip of yellow paper over what appears to be a Social Security number.
According to Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Craig P. Novak’s report, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, Hardison filed a complaint with the Easton Police Department against Martin on Oct. 27 after she learned Martin had posted her address, past and present phone numbers, email address and the names of her relatives on the Easton, CT Happenings and Republican Town Committee Facebook pages. The posts have since been removed.
Hardison told police she was informed of the post by a woman who learned of it from another woman, and that one of them had placed a piece of paper across her Social Security number to stop it from being shared online, according to the report. Under state law, posting a person’s Social Security number on social media is a crime.
The police investigation concluded that Martin originally posted the information with a paper strip across Hardison’s Social Security number and that it was not later blocked by a third party, according to the report. Documents received through the Freedom of Information Act request show Easton police sought a warrant for Martin’s arrest for second-degree harassment, and Novak refused to charge Martin with a crime because the investigation lacked sufficient evidence to prove Martin “willfully” posted Hardison’s Social Security number on the social media site.
“The warrant lacks probable cause demonstrating that Mr. Martin willfully posted Ms. Hardison’s Social Security number: First, it is extremely difficult to read the number. Second, it appears Mr. Martin took the time to cover the alleged number with a Post-It Note. These facts demonstrate that Mr. Martin made attempts to cover up the number. In fact, the number is barely visible,” Novak wrote in the report.
The report also stated that “the posting of Ms. Hardison’s personal information, other than her Social Security number, does not arise to unprotected speech under the First Amendment.”
Selectmen Support Task Force Formation
Selectman Kristi Sogofsky said a committee or task force to clarify the town’s response to actions such as this would be beneficial to everyone who serves on boards or commissions.
“We don’t have a process or plan to deal with these kinds of actions,” said Sogofsky. “A task force could help formulate that response plan in terms of what protections, coverage or legal support are available to board and commission members who are threatened or harassed as a direct result of their service to the town.”
Selectman Nick D’Addario said he has also personally been the target of falsehoods and attacks on social media unrelated to this incident and supports the idea of a task force.
“The sharing of personal information by Ray Martin is just one example of many attacks on people serving on boards and commissions or seeking elected office,” said D’Addario. “We as a town need to do better to make sure people who are running for office and serving on boards and commissions feel protected and that the town has their back.”
A task force could craft an ordinance or consider modifying the town’s current insurance policy to better protect board and commission members, D’Addario said.
Sogofsky favors extending protections to individuals currently serving on boards and commissions, appointed or elected, and to those who were targeted while holding a position on a board or commission in the past.
First Selectman David Bindelglass said leaders of the town’s political parties must take an active role in stopping harassment and attacks on social media.
“If we are going to make this better, there has to be a cultural change in town where decency is valued above harassment,” said Bindelglass. “Bad things will continue to happen if there is not a cultural change.”
The proposed creation of a task force is the latest attempt by the Board of Selectmen to show support for those who serve on boards and commissions. The board issued a statement on Dec. 3 emphasizing that Easton depends on volunteers for the town to function effectively, and it takes its obligation very seriously to protect individuals who serve from threat or harm.
The Board of Selectmen unanimously reappointed Hardison to the Board of Ethics at its Jan. 4 meeting.
