The District of Lantzville is one step closer to having an official Facebook page and Twitter account.
During a committee of the whole meeting Monday, Lantzville councillors approved a social media policy.
The idea to have social media accounts was identified as a priority in the district’s 2016-18 Strategic Priorities, under communication, engagement and transparency.
The goal of the social media policy is to provide residents with information in a timely fashion on district-related matters such as upcoming community events, capital projects and public notices.
Brad McRae, the district’s chief administrative officer, told the committee that the policy provides Lantzville with the flexibility to create any kind of social media account deemed useful.
“The policy itself doesn’t say we are doing X mode of social media,” McRae said. “It gives us a broad outlay of what we get into operationally whether it is Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or whatever.”
While no councillors spoke against having a social media policy, there was some discussion around what type of social media platforms the district should use.Coun. Denise Haime said she liked the policy and wants to see the district create a basic Facebook page that could provide residents with information about what is happening in the community.
“There is really nowhere in the community for residents to be able to go and see what is happening in the community that is easy. I know people go to the website, but people tend to go to Facebook first.”
Coun. Bob Colclough said younger people are using Twitter more than Facebook.
“Younger people don’t use Facebook anymore, they use Twitter. Once us old folks got on Facebook, they left,” Colclough joked.
McRae would operate social media accounts only to provide information.
The policy will be voted on by council at a later date.